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View synonyms for

esoteric

[ es-uh-ter-ik ]

adjective

  1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite:

    poetry full of esoteric allusions.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  2. belonging to the select few.
  3. private; secret; confidential.
  4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group:

    the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras.

  5. Computers. (of programming or a programming language) designed to test or explore an unusual programming concept, regardless of its usefulness.


esoteric

/ ˌɛəʊˈɛɪ /

adjective

  1. restricted to or intended for an enlightened or initiated minority, esp because of abstruseness or obscurity Compare exoteric

    an esoteric cult

  2. difficult to understand; abstruse

    an esoteric statement

  3. not openly admitted; private

    esoteric aims

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌˈٱ, adverb
  • ˌˈٱˌ, noun
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Other yvlog Forms

  • ··ٱ··· adverb
  • ԴDz···ٱ· adjective
  • non···ٱ··· adverb
  • ܲ···ٱ· adjective
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of esoteric1

First recorded in 1645–55; from Greek ōٱó “inner,” equivalent to ṓt(Dz) “inner” + -ikos -ic
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of esoteric1

C17: from Greek ōٱDz, from ōٱō inner
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On such small, esoteric, technical differences are races decided - and in the case of the McLaren drivers this year, perhaps world titles.

From

Porter’s national prominence grew when, during congressional hearings, she grilled Trump administration officials and corporate chieftains using her whiteboard to make esoteric policy understandable.

From

The blog included posts of thousands of words, blending Lasota's personal experiences, theories about technology and philosophy, and esoteric comments about pop culture, computer coding and dozens of other subjects.

From

The beauty of this plan is that everyone can act on it in whatever esoteric way they want.

From

Scratch the surface even a millimeter, and it's evident Kennedy has a hostile, even eliminationist attitude towards anyone he has decided doesn't meet his esoteric standard of physical fitness.

From

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More About Esoteric

What doesesoteric mean?

Esoteric most commonly means obscure and only understood or intended to be understood by a small number of people with special (and perhaps secret) knowledge.

It’s often used to describe knowledge that’s only intended to be revealed to people who have been initiated into a certain group. The word is often associated with mysticism and the occult.

Such knowledge can be collectively referred to as esoterica, which can also refer collectively to books and other works that contain such topics.

Example: To the uninitiated, this kind of esoteric knowledge is impenetrably arcane.

Where doesesoteric come from?

The first records of the word esoteric come from the mid-1600s. It comes from the Greek ōٱDz, from ōٱō, meaning “inner.”

Esoteric information is that which can only be understood by an inner circle of people, such as those with in-depth knowledge of an obscure subject. When you come across a piece of esoteric writing, it’s often difficult to understand what any of it means, unless you happen to have the esoteric knowledge needed to comprehend it.

The word exoteric means the opposite—commonplace or suitable for the general public. Ironically, it’s much less commonly known and used than the word esoteric.

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What are some other forms related to esoteric?

What are some synonyms for esoteric?

What are some words that share a root or word element with esoteric?

What are some words that often get used in discussing esoteric?

How isesoteric used in real life?

The word esoteric is often used in discussion of mystical and occult topics, especially obscure writings about them, but it can be applied to any obscure topic that’s only understood by a select few.

Try usingesoteric!

Is esoteric used correctly in the following sentence?

My local independent bookstore has an impressive collection of esoteric works—there’s some really far-out stuff in there!

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