Vocabulary
esoteric
/ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪk/
adjective
Definition
Intended for or understood by only a small group of people with specialized knowledge. Obscure and difficult for most people to comprehend.
Etymology
From Greek 'esoterikos' meaning 'belonging to an inner circle,' from 'esotero' (inner, within). Originally referred to teachings in ancient Greek schools that were reserved for inner disciples, as opposed to exoteric teachings for the general public.
Learn this word in a 5-minute lesson
Hook, Story, Wonder, Action, Wisdom — one word at a time.
Start Today's Lesson — FreeNo account required. 365 lessons across 19 languages.
For Developers
Access this word programmatically via the Word Orb API. Free tier: 10,000 calls/day, no credit card.
curl https://api.wordorb.ai/api/word/esoteric
View API Pricing →