occult

American  

[uh-kuhlt, ok-uhlt] / əˈkʌlt, ˈɒk ʌlt /

adjective

1. of or relating to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.

2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious.

   Synonyms:

   supernatural, metaphysical, esoteric, arcane

3. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.

   Synonyms:

   kabbalistic, mystical, veiled, unrevealed

4. hidden from view; concealed.

5. (in early science)

   1. not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation.

   2. of a nature not understood, as physical qualities.

   3. dealing with such qualities; experimental.

      occult science.

6. Medicine/Medical. present in amounts too small to be visible.

   a chemical test to detect occult blood in the stool.

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noun

occults plural

1. Usually the occult

   1. the supernatural or supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole.

   2. occult studies or sciences.

verb (used with object)

occults, present (3rd person singular) occulted, past participle, past occulting present participle

1. to block or shut off (an object) from view; hide.

2. Astronomy. to hide (a celestial body) by occultation.

verb (used without object)

occults, present (3rd person singular) occulted, past participle, past occulting present participle

1. to become hidden or shut off from view.

occult British  

adjective

1. 1. of or characteristic of magical, mystical, or supernatural arts, phenomena, or influences

   2. ( as noun )

      the occult

2. beyond ordinary human understanding

3. secret or esoteric

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verb

1. astronomy (of a celestial body) to hide (another celestial body) from view by occultation or (of a celestial body) to become hidden by occultation

2. to hide or become hidden or shut off from view

3. (intr) (of lights, esp in lighthouses) to shut off at regular intervals

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• occulter
  noun
• occultness
  noun
• nonoccult
  adjective
• nonocculting
  adjective
• occultly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• occults
  plural

Participles

• occulting
  present
• occulted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• occult
  simple
• occults
  simple
• have occulted
  perfect
• has occulted
  perfect
• am occulting
  progressive
• are occulting
  progressive
• is occulting
  progressive
• have been occulting
  perfect progressive
• has been occulting
  perfect progressive

Past

• occulted
  simple
• had occulted
  perfect
• was occulting
  progressive
• were occulting
  progressive
• had been occulting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will occult
  simple
• will have occulted
  perfect
• will be occulting
  progressive
• will have been occulting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of occult

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin occultus (past participle of occulere “to hide from view, cover up”), equivalent to oc- “to, toward, over” + -cul-, akin to cēlāre “to hide” + -tus past participle suffix; see oc-, conceal

Explanation

Dark and mysterious, the occult is a kind of supernatural power or magic. If you see your neighbor chanting over a giant vat of bubbling brew in the middle of the night, there's a chance he's dabbling in the occult. The word occult has its roots in the Latin occultus, meaning “hidden, secret.” That's why it can also be used as both a noun referring to black magic and an adjective meaning "difficult to see." Quipped the famous physicist Heinz Pagels, “I like to browse in occult bookshops if for no other reason than to refresh my commitment to science.”

Example Sentences

Occult pyrotechnics and bloody business of all kinds are not allowed to obscure the interior shifts of the shifty Macbeths.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

The "innovative" MA in Magic and Occult Science has been created following a "recent surge in interest in magic", the course leader said.

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2023

Occult consultants have assisted on film and television sets at least since a well-known witch named Raymond Buckland was brought into the 1972 production of “Necromancy,” starring Orson Welles.

From Washington Post • Mar. 10, 2023

Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum — though not all cancers or polyps bleed.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2023

Substantial Forms, Occult Qualities, Intentional Species, Idiosyncrasies, Sympathies and Antipathies of Things, are exploded...because they are only empty Sounds, Words whereof no Man can form a certain and determinate Idea.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton