adj
Uncommon
esoteric
ee-soh-TEHR-ihk
Esoteric (adj) means Understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest. Example: “The lecture got increasingly esoteric, losing most of the audience.”
adj
1
Understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.
"The writing in this manual is very esoteric; I’d need a degree in engineering just to understand it!"
"The lecture got increasingly esoteric, losing most of the audience."
"He collects esoteric jazz records that few people have heard of."
How to use esoteric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKnown or understood by only a small, specialized group — obscure to most people.
Common pairings
esoteric knowledge
esoteric subject
esoteric interests
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Word forms
- Plural
- esoterics
- Comparative
- more esoteric
- Superlative
- most esoteric
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The lecture got increasingly _____, losing most of the audience.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek esōterikos, "belonging to an inner circle," from esōterō, "further within" — originally used for the private teachings Greek philosophers reserved for their closest students, as opposed to public lectures.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for esoteric
See all rhymes for esoteric →Frequently asked questions
What does “esoteric” mean?
The word “esoteric” means understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest. In plain terms, known or understood by only a small, specialized group — obscure to most people.
How do you pronounce “esoteric”?
“Esoteric” is pronounced ee-soh-TEHR-ihk (/ˌɛs.əˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “esoteric” in a sentence?
Here is “esoteric” used in a sentence: “The lecture got increasingly esoteric, losing most of the audience.”
What is the opposite of “esoteric”?
The opposite of “esoteric” — its antonyms — is exoteric.
What part of speech is “esoteric”?
“Esoteric” is an adjective.
Where does the word “esoteric” come from?
The word “esoteric” comes from Ancient Greek.
Is “esoteric” a common word?
“Esoteric” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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