religious rite
- noun
- /rɪˈlɪdʒəs raɪt/
- Thus, religious rites presuppose shared beliefs of members of a close-knit group and are largely regarded as a necessity.
- performing religious rites
- religious rites and ceremonies
Examples
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The decision by the Rev. Gary LaMoine to deny the religious rite of passage for Lennon.
Blog text (34) -
God is active in the different religious rites that give corporate expression to the human response to God.
Blog text (21) -
In the imperial capital of Cuzco, most important royal and religious rites took place in the highly public central plaza.
Academic text (2007) -
Most depictions of Egyptian religious rites feature males.
Academic text (2006) -
As Referendum 74 states, clergy would not be required to perform religious rites or ceremonies for same-sex couples if the measure passed.
Blog text (31) -
Religious rites involved clothing: special garments were worn by priests, wrapped around mummies, and burned as sacrifice.
Academic text (2000) -
The community gathered every spring for a religious rite to celebrate the harvest.
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During the festival, they performed a religious rite that honored their ancestors.
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In many cultures, a religious rite is essential for marking important life events like birth and marriage.
Synonyms
A formal event that follows traditional rules for a special occasion
A religious meeting for public worship, often in a church
A formal ceremony often held as part of a religious tradition
A planned public worship service with fixed prayers and actions
A formal event where people meet to show shared beliefs with prayers and rituals
A formal event to mark or honor a special day
A public event where people pray, sing, and listen in a church or temple
A ceremony with set actions from a religion like prayers and singing
A formal event with set actions on a special occasion
A public ceremony in a church where people pray and sing
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'religious' (relating to religion) modifies 'rite' (a formal ceremonial act), yielding a ceremony connected to religion. This adjective+noun pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Religious rite comes from the idea that certain religious actions are done in a fixed order—the rite is the set of steps like washing, praying, or giving a gift. That's why a religious rite means a 'formal ceremony' in a religion.