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exoteric

[ ek-suh-ter-ik ]
/ ˌɛk səˈtɛr ɪk /
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adjective
suitable for or communicated to the general public.
not belonging, limited, or pertaining to the inner or select circle, as of disciples or intimates.
pertaining to the outside; exterior; external.
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Origin of exoteric

First recorded in 1645–55; from Late Latin exōtericus “popular (e.g., of books), not technical or abstruse,” from Greek exōterikós “external, outside, popular,” equivalent to exṓter(os) “outer” (from exō- adverb and prefix + -teros comparative suffix also used for natural and complementary pairs) + -ikos adjective suffix; see exo-, -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM exoteric

ex·o·ter·i·cal·ly, adverbex·o·ter·i·cism, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exoteric

esoteric, exoteric
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use exoteric in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exoteric

exoteric
/ (ˌɛksəʊˈtɛrɪk) /

adjective
intelligible to or intended for more than a select or initiated minorityan exoteric account of a philosophical doctrine
external; exterior

Derived forms of exoteric

exoterically, adverbexotericism, noun

Word Origin for exoteric

C17: from Latin exōtericus external, from Greek exōterikos, from exōterō further outside; see exo-
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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