Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: ritualis, from ritus; RITE

ritual

2 adjective
     
ritual2 [only before noun]
1 done as part of a rite or ritual:
ritual dances
2 done in a fixed and expected way, but without real meaning or sincerity:
The police issued the usual ritual apology.
—ritually adverb:
Animals are brought in and ritually slaughtered.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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