- plural of arcanum.
arcana
Americannoun
-
(used with a singular or plural verb) either of the two types of tarot cards in a deck, the minor arcana and the major arcana.
noun
Etymology
Origin of arcana
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin; neuter plural (used as a noun) of arcanum ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The idea that this has to be weighted down with law-review articles and footnotes and arcana about the history of a three-part test is a way of obfuscating, right?
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
Classes look a lot like college in an earlier era: more Great Books and Socratic method, less arcana and critical theory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2026
The point is that they aren’t arcana that’s only known to the most devoted of Boss fans, so the dissonance between what the audience knows and what they’re being told will have an impact.
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2025
It’s a solid if typical entry into the Pavement slacker-rock arcana.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2024
"Yes, but we only changed the color of their fur, for arcana practice."
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
