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

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)

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

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

verb (used without object)

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

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

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 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

Shortly after the first archeologist death a few months following the tomb’s discovery, newspaper headlines blared about the “Curse of the Pharaohs” and claimed, “Famous Spiritualist Sees Occult Reason for Fatality.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 4, 2022

I nodded silently, too scared of this Apostle of the Occult to call forth my voice, and headed for the door.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan