Exoteric
/ˌɛksəˈtɛrɪk/noun
Intended for or understood by the general public; not secret or specialized.
Did you know?Exoteric is the public-facing twin of esoteric, and both come from Greek words meaning “inner” and “outer,” a distinction philosophers used to separate accessible teaching from mystery doctrine.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
exōterikos
“outer; more external; meant for outsiders”
Late Greek
Greek
exōteros
“more outside; outer”
Classical Greek
Greek
exō
“outside”
Late 16th Century
English
exoterik
“public; not secret”
Modern English
English
exoteric
“intended for the general public; not specialized or secret”
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