Apedia

Exoteric Meaning Greek October Adjective Ek Suh Tair Ik Derives Latin

Exoteric means suitable to be imparted to the public or belonging to the outer circle.

Exoteric means suitable to be imparted to the public or belonging to the outer circle.

Word exoteric
Date October 14, 2019
Type adjective
Syllables ek-suh-TAIR-ik
Etymology Exoteric derives from Latin exotericus, which is itself from Greek exōterikos, meaning "external," and ultimately from exō, meaning "outside." Exō has a number of offspring in English, including exotic, exonerate, exorbitant, and the combining form exo- or ex- (as in exoskeleton and exobiology). The antonym of exoteric is esoteric, meaning "designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone"; it descends from the Greek word for "within," esō.
Examples As a specialist writing for a broader audience, Annette faces the challenge of producing an exoteric synthesis of complex information.

"Mainstream Judaism is primarily an exoteric, or outwardly oriented, religion, with a focus on reason, philosophy and ethics. Yet it has always had an esoteric side, expressed in the kabbalah and other mystical teachings." — Rodger Kamenetz, The San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Dec. 1990
Definition 1 a : suitable to be imparted to the public
b : belonging to the outer or less initiate circle
2 : relating to the outside : external

Tags: wordoftheday::adjective

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