1. people who practice or emphasize the importance of rituals, especially in religious ceremonies
2. members of a movement within the Anglican Church that emphasizes elaborate liturgical ceremonies
Usage: religious; historical

Examples

• The ritualists insisted on following every traditional ceremony exactly as prescribed.
• Many ritualists believe that formal ceremonies help connect people to the sacred.
• The Anglican ritualists advocated for more elaborate church services in the 19th century.
• Some ritualists spend hours preparing for religious observances.
• The debate between ritualists and those favoring simpler worship continues today.
• Traditional ritualists maintain that ceremony preserves important cultural heritage.