Ritual vs. Routine — What's the Difference?

A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community.

A sequence of actions regularly followed

A ceremony in which the actions and wording follow a prescribed form and order.

Performed as part of a regular procedure rather than for a special reason

The body of ceremonies or rites used in a place of worship or by an organization

Organize according to a routine

A book of rites or ceremonial forms.

A set of customary or unchanging and often mechanically performed activities or procedures

A set of actions that are conducted routinely in the same manner

The practice of such activities or procedures

(Zoology) A set of actions that an animal performs in a fixed sequence, often as a means of communication

A scripted piece of entertainment, especially in a nightclub or theater

Associated with or performed according to a rite or ritual

(Slang) A particular kind of behavior or activity

Being part of an established routine

(Computers) A set of programming instructions designed to perform a specific limited task.

Related to a rite or repeated set of actions.

In accord with established procedure

A rite; a repeated set of actions.

Habitual; regular

Of or pertaining to rites or ritual; as, ritual service or sacrifices; the ritual law.

Having no special quality; ordinary

A prescribed form of performing divine service in a particular church or communion; as, the Jewish ritual.

A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.

Hence, the code of ceremonies observed by an organization; as, the ritual of the freemasons.

A set of normal procedures, often performed mechanically.

A book containing the rites to be observed.

A set piece of an entertainer's act.

Any customary observance or practice

(computing) A set of instructions designed to perform a specific task; a subroutine.

The prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies

According to established procedure.

Stereotyped behavior

Regular; habitual.

Of or relating to or characteristic of religious rituals;

Ordinary with nothing to distinguish it from all the others.

Of or relating to or employed in social rites or rituals;

A round of business, amusement, or pleasure, daily or frequently pursued; especially, a course of business or offical duties regularly or frequently returning.

Any regular course of action or procedure rigidly adhered to by the mere force of habit.

An unvarying or habitual method of procedure

A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;

A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

Occurring at fixed times or predictable intervals;

Found in the ordinary course of events;