Word of the Day: Esoteric (adjective)
Possible Meanings:
- Designed for or understood by only a small number of people with special knowledge or training. (Most common meaning)
- Difficult to understand.
- Limited to a small circle.
- Of special, rare, or unusual interest. (Less common)
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Example Sentences:
- Understanding ancient philosophy can be quite esoteric. (Explanation: Esoteric describes the specialized knowledge required for comprehension.).
- The lecture on advanced mathematics went over my head – it was far too esoteric for me. (Explanation: Here, esoteric describes the difficulty in understanding the subject matter.)
- Certain religious rituals are considered esoteric, only accessible to initiated members. (Explanation: Esoteric describes the exclusivity of the rituals.)
- The museum exhibit explored the esoteric world of competitive snail racing. (Explanation: Less common usage – esoteric describes the unusual and niche topic.)
Opposite: Exoteric (suitable to be imparted to the public)
Conversation Example:
Person 1: “I’m reading this book on string theory, but it’s full of technical jargon. It’s very esoteric.”
Person 2: “Yeah, physics can get pretty esoteric sometimes. Maybe there’s a documentary or online explainer that can break it down for us in a more accessible way.”
Can you use esoteric in a sentence of your own? Share your example in the comments below.