ritual murder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Academic / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “ritual murder” mean?
A killing performed as part of a prescribed religious or magical ceremony, often with the belief it will bring power, fertility, or divine favour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A killing performed as part of a prescribed religious or magical ceremony, often with the belief it will bring power, fertility, or divine favour.
A term often used in anthropology, criminology, and journalism to describe a homicide committed according to a specific, often symbolic, set of actions believed to have supernatural efficacy; can be used metaphorically to describe any systematic, formalized act of destruction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. British sources may more frequently reference colonial-era case studies, while American usage might appear more in contexts of modern cults or true crime.
Connotations
Equally grave and academic in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general use, but comparable occurrence in specialized fields across both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “ritual murder” in a Sentence
The [GROUP] committed ritual murder.They were tried for ritual murder.Anthropologists have studied the ritual murder of [VICTIM TYPE].The crime had all the hallmarks of a ritual murder.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ritual murder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No direct verb form; periphrastic: 'to commit ritual murder')
- The cult was alleged to have ritualistically murdered outsiders.
American English
- (No direct verb form; periphrastic: 'to carry out a ritual murder')
- The prosecutor argued they had engaged in ritual murder.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The ritual-murder allegations were found to be baseless.
- A ritual-murder scenario.
American English
- The ritual murder case captivated the nation.
- Ritual murder motives.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in anthropology, religious studies, criminology, and history texts discussing specific cultural practices.
Everyday
Extremely rare; used in sensationalist news reports or discussions of extreme crimes.
Technical
Used as a specific category in forensic psychology and criminal profiling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ritual murder”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ritual murder”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ritual murder”
- Using it to describe any planned murder (it requires a ceremonial/symbolic element).
- Confusing it with 'serial murder' (which is about pattern and number, not necessarily ritual).
- Misspelling as 'ritual murder' (correct as two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related and often overlap. 'Ritual murder' emphasises the formal, procedural aspect of the killing, while 'sacrifice' emphasises the act of offering something (including a life) to a deity or power. A sacrifice is often a type of ritual murder.
No, it is extremely rare in the modern world. Most reported cases are either historical, allegations within isolated cults, or sensationalised media reports. Its primary use is as an academic category.
Yes, though it's a powerful and dark metaphor. For example: 'The board's quarterly cuts have become a ritual murder of innovation,' implying a formal, repeated destruction of something.
It is historically entangled with false accusations against minority groups (like the antisemitic 'blood libel'). Responsible use requires precise, evidence-based application to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
A killing performed as part of a prescribed religious or magical ceremony, often with the belief it will bring power, fertility, or divine favour.
Ritual murder is usually formal / academic / journalistic in register.
Ritual murder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪtʃ.u.əl ˈmɜː.dər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪtʃ.u.əl ˈmɝː.dɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none directly; the term itself is often used as a component in phrases like 'a ritual murder case')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a formal RITUAL (like a wedding or ceremony) but with the terrible outcome of MURDER at its centre.
Conceptual Metaphor
MURDER IS A RITUAL (frames the violent act as a formal, patterned procedure with symbolic meaning).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would the term 'ritual murder' be most technically precise?