noun
- Plural of ceremonialism; excessive adherence to or emphasis on ceremony and ritual, especially in religious or formal contexts.
- Plural of ceremonialism; systems or practices that prioritize ceremonial forms and rituals as central to religious or social life.
Usage: Usually used in a critical or disapproving sense to describe overemphasis on formal procedures at the expense of substance or meaning.
Usage: Often used in religious or anthropological contexts to describe traditions that emphasize ritual observance.
Examples
- The reformers criticized the ceremonialisms of the established church as hollow and meaningless.
- Different cultures have developed their own ceremonialisms to mark important life transitions.
- He rejected the ceremonialisms of court life in favor of a more direct approach to governance.
- The anthropologist studied various ceremonialisms across indigenous societies.
- Some argue that excessive ceremonialisms can obscure the true purpose of religious observance.
- The organization's ceremonialisms included elaborate initiation rites and formal protocols.