esoteric
English · Thesaurus
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
esoteric
- /ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ UK
- /ˌɛs.əˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ US
- /ˌɛs.oʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ US
- /ˌɛs.oʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ Canada
- /ˌiː.səˈteɹ.ɪk/ Australia
- /ˌes.əˈteɹ.ɪk/ Australia
Rhymes with -ɛɹɪk
Where it comes from
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός (esōterikós, “belonging to an inner circle”), from ἐσωτέρω (esōtérō, “further inside”), comparative of ἔσω (ésō, “within”), from ἐς (es), εἰς (eis, “into”) (the term esoteric referred originally to the secret teachings of Greek philosophers, versus public or exoteric ones).
adjective more esoteric · most esoteric · esoterick
-
Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle.
The writing in this manual is very esoteric; I’d need a degree in engineering just to understand it!
Similar: arcane, recondite, acroamatic · Opposite: exoteric
- Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations. When he spoke to me of esoteric mysteries I wanted to say to him,"Don't give me that spiritual hokum, friend!"
-
Confidential; private.
an esoteric purpose
Similar: secretive
Opposite: exoteric
noun esoterics · esoterick
-
An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy.
Similar: esotericism · Opposite: exoterism, common knowledge
-
One who believes, or is an initiate, in esoteric doctrines or rites.
Opposite: exoteric
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: mystical, mystic, arcane, deep, recondite, secret, occult, cryptic, cryptical, abstruse, mysterious, cabalistic, sibylline, acroamatic, obscure, unclear
adjective
Opposite: exoteric
Translations
Every language
adj understood only by a chosen few
| Español | esotérico |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 秘儀の higi no, 奥義の ōgi no |
| 中文 | 秘傳的 /秘传的 mìchuán de |
| Português | esotérico |
| Français | ésotérique |
| Deutsch | esoterisch |
| Italiano | esoterico |
| Ελληνικά | εσωτερικός esoterikós |
| Română | ezoteric |
| Русский | эзотери́ческий ezoteríčeskij |
adj having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical
| 日本語 | 深遠な shin'en na |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 深晦的 shēnhuì de, 深奧的 /深奥的 shēn'ào de, 玄妙的 xuánmiào de |
| Português | esotérico |
| Français | cérébral |
| Deutsch | esoterisch |
| Ελληνικά | απόκρυφος apókryfos |
| Русский | эзотери́ческий ezoteríčeskij |
adj confidential; private
| 日本語 | 秘密の himitsu no |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 隱秘的 /隐秘的 yǐnmì de |
| Português | confidencial, secreto |
| Deutsch | geheim |
| Ελληνικά | εσωτερικός esoterikós, μυστικός mystikós |
| Русский | эзотери́ческий ezoteríčeskij, та́йный tájnyj, скры́тый skrýtyj |
Talk about this word "esoteric." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/esoteric. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. esoteric. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/esoteric "esoteric." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/esoteric.Cite this
@misc{esoteric_2026,
title = {esoteric},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/esoteric},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
