adj
Uncommon
occult
OK-uhlt
Occult (adj) means relating to magic, mysticism, or supernatural practices. Example: “She kept a collection of books on occult rituals.”
adj
1
Relating to magic, mysticism, or supernatural practices.
"She kept a collection of books on occult rituals."
2
Hidden from ordinary knowledge or view.
"His illness had occult symptoms that were hard to diagnose."
verb
1
To hide or block from view.
"The moon occulted the star for several minutes."
noun
1
Supernatural beliefs, practices, or phenomena, considered as a whole.
"He became fascinated by the occult after reading about tarot."
How to use occult
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething hidden or secret, especially relating to magic and the supernatural.
Common pairings
occult practices
the occult
occult symbols
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- occults
- Past tense
- occulted
- Comparative
- more occult
- Superlative
- most occult
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She kept a collection of books on _____ rituals.
Etymology
From Latin occultus, "hidden, secret", past participle of occulere, related to celare, "to hide" — the same root as "conceal".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “occult” mean?
The word “occult” means relating to magic, mysticism, or supernatural practices. In plain terms, something hidden or secret, especially relating to magic and the supernatural.
How do you pronounce “occult”?
“Occult” is pronounced OK-uhlt (/əˈkʌlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “occult” in a sentence?
Here is “occult” used in a sentence: “She kept a collection of books on occult rituals.”
What part of speech is “occult”?
Depending on how it is used, “occult” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “occult” come from?
The word “occult” comes from Latin. From Latin occultus, "hidden, secret", past participle of occulere, related to celare, "to hide" — the same root as "conceal".
Is “occult” a common word?
“Occult” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “occult” have?
“Occult” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to magic, mysticism, or supernatural practices.
