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exoteric

[ek-suh-ter-ik]

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SEE MORE 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.

Origin of exoteric

1645–55; < Late Latin exōtericus external < Greek exōterikós, equivalent to exṓter(os) inclined outward (exō- exo- + -teros comparative suffix) + -ikos -ic

Related formsex·o·ter·i·cal·ly, adverbex·o·ter·i·cism, noun

Can be confusedesoteric exoteric

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for exoteric

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

Examples from the Web for exoteric

Historical Examples of exoteric

They are exoteric, now from the people's point of view, now from that of the priests.
The Expositor's Bible:The Book of Numbers
Robert A. Watson
The former were called his esoteric, the latter his exoteric, discourses.
Aristotle and Ancient Educational Ideals
Thomas Davidson
The Essenes had their "Exoteric" and their "Esoteric" doctrines.
The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors
Kersey Graves
With the teachers of exoteric knowledge it is 'Obey or be damned!'
A Son of Perdition
Fergus Hume
This Marquis, though he had his exoteric politics, had his esoteric feelings.
Marion Fay
Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for exoteric

exoteric

adjective

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

external; exterior

Derived Formsexoterically, 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

Word Origin and History for exoteric

adj.

1650s, from Late Latin exotericus, from Greek exoterikos, from exotero, comparative of exo (see exo-).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

exoteric in Medicine

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.