adj
esoteric
ee-soh-TEHR-ihk
adj
1
Understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.
"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
Word Forms
more esoteric comparative, esoterics plural, most esoteric superlative
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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.