occult

American  

[uh-kuhlt, ok-uhlt] / əˈkʌlt, ˈɒk ʌlt /

adjective

1. of or relating to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.

2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious.

   Synonyms:

   supernatural, metaphysical, esoteric, arcane

3. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.

   Synonyms:

   kabbalistic, mystical, veiled, unrevealed

4. hidden from view; concealed.

5. (in early science)

   1. not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation.

   2. of a nature not understood, as physical qualities.

   3. dealing with such qualities; experimental.

      occult science.

6. Medicine/Medical. present in amounts too small to be visible.

   a chemical test to detect occult blood in the stool.

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noun

1. Usually the occult

   1. the supernatural or supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole.

   2. occult studies or sciences.

verb (used with object)

1. to block or shut off (an object) from view; hide.

2. Astronomy. to hide (a celestial body) by occultation.

verb (used without object)

1. to become hidden or shut off from view.

occult British  

adjective

1. 1. of or characteristic of magical, mystical, or supernatural arts, phenomena, or influences

   2. ( as noun )

      the occult

2. beyond ordinary human understanding

3. secret or esoteric

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verb

1. astronomy (of a celestial body) to hide (another celestial body) from view by occultation or (of a celestial body) to become hidden by occultation

2. to hide or become hidden or shut off from view

3. (intr) (of lights, esp in lighthouses) to shut off at regular intervals

Other Word Forms

• nonoccult adjective
• nonocculting adjective
• occulter noun
• occultly adverb
• occultness noun

Etymology

Origin of occult

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin occultus (past participle of occulere “to hide from view, cover up”), equivalent to oc- “to, toward, over” + -cul-, akin to cēlāre “to hide” + -tus past participle suffix; oc-, conceal

Example Sentences

But a smaller, third group believed that Nazi showmanship was occult wizardry and that they were in on the secret.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

"You have an entire landscape of uncertainty and vulnerability and you have this 1,000-year-old tapestry of spells and medicines and occult knowledge that just has seeped into the Burmese consciousness."

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

As it turns out, Gladys, avid in the occult, is keeping those kids in a trance to drain them of their energy and stay alive.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

The self-styled Prince of Darkness turned the grim, creeping feeling of late ’60s Birmingham into incredibly influential songs about the occult and the apocalypse.

From Salon • Jul. 22, 2025

Some nights, groups of church members, concerned about the increasing interest in the occult, gathered outside the house to protest.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock