# esoteric

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ · frequency rank #23,264

## Definitions
1. Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle.
2. Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
3. Confidential; private.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός (esōterikós, “belonging to an inner circle”), from ἐσωτέρω (esōtérō, “further inside”), comparative of ἔσω (ésō, “within”), from ἐς (es), εἰς (eis, “into”) (the term esoteric referred originally to the secret teachings of Greek philosophers, versus public or exoteric ones).

## Common misspellings (11)
`eosteric`, `esoetric`, `esoteirc`, `esoterci`, `esotericc`, `esoterric`, `esotreic`, `esotteric`, `essoteric`, `estoeric`, `seoteric`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/esoteric