arcane

adjective

ar·​cane är-ˈkān How to pronounce arcane (audio)
: known or knowable only to a few people : secret
arcane rites
an arcane ritual
broadly : mysterious, obscure
arcane explanations
arcane technical details

Examples of arcane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And if this becomes an arcane game of legal chess, both his critics and Fauci would have available moves. Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025 Under arcane California rules, if a party’s statewide voter registration numbers dropped below a certain threshold, that party’s candidates couldn’t be on a ballot. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024 Uncovering the arcane secrets of the game's multiple environmental blocks is often far from obvious and rewards players who like to experiment and explore. Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024 As a coach, Rooney also showed an interest in studying MLS’ complex and often arcane roster rules and regulations, something many foreign coaches have had little appetite for. Pablo Maurer, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for arcane 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin arcānus "secret, private, intimate," from arca "chest, coffer, box" + -ānus -an entry 2 — more at ark

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arcane was in 1547

Dictionary Entries Near arcane

Cite this Entry

“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arcane. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

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