recondite
Americanadjective
-
dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter.
a recondite treatise.
-
beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; esoteric.
recondite principles.
- Synonyms:
- deep
- Antonyms:
- exoteric
-
little known; obscure.
a recondite fact.
- Synonyms:
- secret, occult, mysterious
- Antonyms:
- well-known
adjective
-
requiring special knowledge to be understood; abstruse
-
dealing with abstruse or profound subjects
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of recondite
1640–50; earlier recondit < Latin reconditus recondite, hidden (originally past participle of recondere to hide), equivalent to re- re- + cond ( ere ) to bring together ( con- con- + -dere to put) + -itus -ite 2
Explanation
It's rather difficult to penetrate the meaning of recondite. Fitting, because it's an adjective that basically means hard for the average mind to understand. If it's really hard to comprehend, then it's safe to say it's recondite. In the same family as "abstruse," "esoteric" and "totally deep, man," recondite is a very serious word that you could use to describe obscure philosophy books, high level mathematical theory, and the series finale of The Sopranos — you know, things that make your brain hurt.
Vocabulary lists containing recondite
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Into the Wild
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bond knew weapons as well as he did the most recondite French wine list.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
The wisdom-of-crowds argument presupposes that the masses possess some recondite knowledge that can be unlocked by allowing individuals to express themselves as part of an anonymous mob.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
Today, a number of doyens in the recondite field of AI admit they don’t know where all this is headed.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2023
Throughout, the syntax is punchy and slangy, while the diction often grows brazenly recondite.
From Washington Post • Nov. 10, 2022
By various recondite processes, he converted the urine first into a noxious paste and then into a translucent warty substance.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
