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esoteric

es-uh-TER-ik/ˌɛs.əˈtɛɹ.ɪk/UKee-soh-TER-ik/ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ee-suh-TER-ik/ˌiː.səˈteɹ.ɪk/

4 meanings of esoteric

Practice

  1. 1
    obscureadjective
    Meant for or understood by only a few people with special knowledge, often about mystical subjects.

    His hobby is esoteric: he collects train tickets from the 1800s.

    The jokes were so esoteric that only the chess players at the table laughed.

    UsageDon't mix up esoteric with exotic, which means foreign or unusual.

    Similarobscure, arcane, abstruse, recondite, cryptic

    Oppositeaccessible, popular, mainstream

    Note
  2. 2
    privateadjective
    Kept secret or private.

    Similarprivate, confidential, secret

    Oppositepublic, open

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 3
    noun
    A teaching or book meant only for a small group of chosen members.
  2. 4
    noun
    A person who believes in secret teachings or rituals, or who has been let into a group that keeps them.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from a Greek word meaning "belonging to an inner circle". It first meant the secret teachings of Greek philosophers.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • Esoteric comes from a Greek word meaning 'belonging to an inner circle'. en.wiktionary.org
  • Its original meaning concerned the secret teachings of Greek philosophers. en.wiktionary.org