obscure

The word “obscure” means not well known. In plain terms, either little-known, or hard to see/understand clearly, or (as a verb) to hide something.

“Obscure” is pronounced uhb-SKYOOR (/əbˈskjʊɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “obscure” used in a sentence: “The film is based on an obscure Victorian novel.”

Depending on how it is used, “obscure” can be an adjective and a verb.

The word “obscure” comes from Latin. From Latin obscurus, "dark, dusky, indistinct.".

“Obscure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

“Obscure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not well known.

Obscure describes something not well known or difficult to understand, often because it is hidden, complex, or rarely encountered, such as an obscure historical fact. Vague instead describes something lacking clear detail or precision, such as a vague answer, even if the topic itself is well known.

As a verb, obscure means to hide something or make it difficult to see or understand, as in "clouds obscured the mountain" or "jargon can obscure the real meaning." This usage applies to both physical concealment and making ideas or facts harder to grasp.

An obscure reference is a mention of something not well known, so that only a small number of people are likely to recognise or understand it. The term is often used for niche pop-culture allusions, historical details, or specialist facts that most people would miss.