Definition:
A person who claims religious belief but only appears at weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other major ceremonies — never in the ordinary life of the faith. A ceremony‑only believer.
Origin:
Coined by Douglas Gouk, “ceremite” blends ceremony with the suffix ‑ite (denoting a follower or member). It describes someone whose religious identity exists only during formal occasions, not in daily practice. A ceremite performs belief rather than lives it.
A person who claims religious belief but only appears at weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other major ceremonies — never in the ordinary life of the faith. A ceremony‑only believer.
Origin:
Coined by Douglas Gouk, “ceremite” blends ceremony with the suffix ‑ite (denoting a follower or member). It describes someone whose religious identity exists only during formal occasions, not in daily practice. A ceremite performs belief rather than lives it.
• “He says he’s devout, but he’s a total ceremite.”
• “The church was full of ceremites at the wedding.”
• “She’s a Christmas ceremite — disappears the rest of the year.”
• “The church was full of ceremites at the wedding.”
• “She’s a Christmas ceremite — disappears the rest of the year.”
by doogers February 4, 2026
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