exoteric

adjective

ex·​o·​ter·​ic ˌek-sə-ˈter-ik 

1

a

: suitable to be imparted to the public

the exoteric doctrine

compare esoteric

b

: belonging to the outer or less initiate circle

2

: relating to the outside : external

exoterically

ˌek-sə-ˈter-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

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 of exoteric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The High Sierra is exoteric—attentive to the general reader, instructive, open in character. —Verlyn Klinkenborg, The Atlantic, 21 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin & Greek; Latin exotericus, from Greek exōterikos, literally, external, from exōterō more outside, comparative of exō outside — more at exo-

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!