a. | 1. | Designed for, and understood by, the specially initiated alone; not communicated, or not intelligible, to the general body of followers; private; interior; acroamatic; - said of discussions of technical topics and of the private and more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to |
2. | Marked by secrecy or privacy; private; select; confidential; | |
n. | 1. | (Philos.) An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy; esoterics. |
Adj. | 1. | esoteric - confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories" Antonyms: exoteric - suitable for the general public; "writings of an exoteric nature" |