exoteric
- adjective
- /ˌɛk.səˈtɛr.ɪk/
:
exotérico
- According to the Maghribian philosopher, the religious text has an exoteric and an esoteric meaning.
- exoteric writing
- exoteric teaching
- exoteric level
Examples
-
An exoteric work is written with the utmost precision.
Academic text (2003) -
The meaning of this statement is that geometry—and by implication Spinozan, Cartesian, and scientific methodologies—pertain to the exoteric.
Academic text (1990) -
If the exoteric meaning is at variance with reason, the text must be interpreted according to reason.
Academic text (1996) -
Each, he believed, has two distinct levels of study and comprehension: an exoteric level accessible to all, and an esoteric level accessible only to the elite.
Academic text (1990) -
In Persecution's first two chapters, Strauss presents a general account of the causes requiring and the purposes informing the practice of exoteric writing.
Academic text (2003) -
The professor wrote an exoteric article that anyone could easily understand.
-
Her lecture on biology was exoteric, aimed at helping high school students grasp the basic concepts.
-
The book contains exoteric explanations of complex scientific theories for the general audience.
Antonyms
How Public
∞
1.0
∞
1.0
75
3.4
- Specialized
350
4.4
- Formal
26
9.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
exoteric = exo + ter + ic
The prefix 'exo-' (outside) and the adjectival suffix '-ic' are recognizable, but the central element 'ter' is not a standalone English word, so the public/outer sense is partly guessable but may be unfamiliar to many learners.
Etymology
Exoteric comes from the Greek root exo- meaning 'outside', the same idea you see in external and exterior. So, something exoteric is made to be understood by people outside a small group — it is meant for the general public.