Esoteric
Describing knowledge, language, or information intended for a small, specialized audience; obscure or not readily accessible to the general public.
adjectiveEsoteric
Describing knowledge, language, or information intended for a small, specialized audience; obscure or not readily accessible to the general public.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a hidden library where a handful of scholars study a manuscript filled with symbols. The others stand outside the door, unable to read the script because it's esoteric.
Sounds Like
ee-SO-ter-ik
Looks Like
Suggests 'secret' knowledge; visually hints at something hidden and specialized, ending with -ic.
Remember This
Esoteric knowledge contrasts with exoteric knowledge, which is accessible to the general public. The prefix eso- means inside.
Other Forms
Connect With
arcane, recondite, abstruse, cryptic, inscrutable, exclusive knowledge
Note
Use for topics that require specialized knowledge or initiation. Do not misuse to mean simply 'difficult'—it emphasizes audience and access, not just complexity. Exoteric is the common opposite.