esoteric

American  

[es-uh-ter-ik] / ˌɛs əˈtɛr ɪk /

adjective

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

   poetry full of esoteric allusions.

   Synonyms:

   enigmatic, cryptic, arcane, abstruse

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.

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esoteric British  

/ ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk /

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

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Usage

What does esoteric 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.

Other Word Forms

• esoterically adverb
• esotericism noun
• nonesoteric adjective
• nonesoterically adverb
• unesoteric adjective

Etymology

Origin of esoteric

First recorded in 1645–55; from Greek esōterikós “inner,” equivalent to esṓter(os) “inner” + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

This is a thronged, esoteric, besottedly allusive novel, one of the most niche things I have ever reviewed.

From The Wall Street Journal

For wine drinkers with mysterious preferences, I suggest a bottle of Champagne—but not an overly famous or esoteric one.

From The Wall Street Journal

A program note says that these solos “journey into the esoteric dimensions of human existence.”

From New York Times

The catacomb studio is stocked with esoteric electronic instruments, some of which shaped the band’s intense, darkly psychedelic new album, “False Lankum.”

From New York Times

While his first book was weird and esoteric enough to have obviously been written by a human, this one reads like a politician’s memoir churned out by ChatGPT.

From New York Times

Related Words

• abstruse
• arcane
• mystical