rite of passage
noun
plural rites of passage
: a ritual, event, or experience that marks or constitutes a major milestone or change in a person's life
Rites of passage celebrate the social movement of individuals into and out of groups or into or out of statuses of critical importance to the individual and to the community. Reproduction, the achievement of manhood and womanhood, marriage, and death are the principal worldwide occasions for rites of passage.—
Marvin Harris
Marvin HarrisFor them the two years of missionary work, with the rigorous bootcamp-style training preceding it, is a rite of passage between graduation and marriage, adolescence and adult life.—Malise Ruthven
Malise RuthvenToday, when each year American society becomes more complex, a veritable tapestry of nationalities, the strongest of our common threads may well be the rites of passage all immigrants face.—Harold Holzer
Harold HolzerThe author, grandson of the poet Allen Tate, dropped out of Sewanee University after going through the by-now familiar 1960's rite of passage of drugs, sex, and antiwar demonstrations …—Caroline Seebohm
compare initiation rite
Caroline SeebohmExamples of rite of passage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As polished-glam and old-Hollywood as the references were, there were moments that also felt sleazy and fun in the way that Hollywood in 2007 did, when getting photographed pouring out of a car on the way into the club was a rite of passage and full of its own twisted promise.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Growing up in New England, attending The Big E was something of a rite of passage.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
The Swedish retailer’s furniture is a rite of passage for starter apartments and a beloved resource for all kinds of design lovers on a budget, with simple Scandi-style options for minimalists and trendier pieces for risk takers.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
In an era when being a touring band feels less like a rite of passage and more like an exercise in financial survival, one legendary Chicago hot dog stand is doing its part to keep the city rocking.
—Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rite of passage
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Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Growing up in New England, attending The Big E was something of a rite of passage.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
The Swedish retailer’s furniture is a rite of passage for starter apartments and a beloved resource for all kinds of design lovers on a budget, with simple Scandi-style options for minimalists and trendier pieces for risk takers.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
In an era when being a touring band feels less like a rite of passage and more like an exercise in financial survival, one legendary Chicago hot dog stand is doing its part to keep the city rocking.
—Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rite of passage
Cite this Entry
“Rite of passage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite%20of%20passage. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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