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
Keeping your favorite utensils, ingredients, and spices handy on your kitchen counter is practically a chef’s rite of passage.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
This meta incorporation of the play adds a sense of déjà vu to the film, suggesting that what’s happening to Clay could be a rite of passage that every Black man must face in this country.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
For newcomers, a Carowinds trip is a rite of passage, where Charlotte families have been making memories for generations.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 2026
Reaching them for the first time is a rite of passage.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rite of passage
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Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
This meta incorporation of the play adds a sense of déjà vu to the film, suggesting that what’s happening to Clay could be a rite of passage that every Black man must face in this country.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
For newcomers, a Carowinds trip is a rite of passage, where Charlotte families have been making memories for generations.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 2026
Reaching them for the first time is a rite of passage.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 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 8 Jan. 2026.
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