1. excessive emphasis on or adherence to ritual, especially in religious practices
2. a movement in the Anglican Church emphasizing elaborate ceremonial practices
Usage: religious; historical

Examples

• The congregation grew tired of the priest’s ritualism and preferred simpler services.
• Critics accused the church of empty ritualism that had lost its spiritual meaning.
• The 19th-century ritualism movement brought back many traditional Catholic practices to Anglican worship.
• Some worshippers found comfort in ritualism while others sought more personal expressions of faith.
• The debate over ritualism divided the Anglican Church for decades.
• His approach to religion emphasized personal devotion over ritualism.