Dictionary.com

exoteric

[ ek-suh-ter-ik ]
/ ˌɛk səˈtɛr ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR exoteric ON THESAURUS.COM

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.
popular; simple; commonplace.
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

Words nearby exoteric

exosphere, exospore, exosporium, exostosis, exostosis cartilaginea, exoteric, exoterica, exothermic, exotic, exotica, exotic dancer
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to exoteric

exterior, outlying, outdoor, outer, external, extraterrestrial, peripheral, over, surface, alien, beyond, extraneous, extrinsic, outermost, outside, outward, remote, superficial, without, outmost

Example sentences from the Web for exoteric

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

Medical definitions for exoteric

exoteric
[ ĕk′sə-tĕr′ĭk ]

adj.

Arising outside the organism; of external origin.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.