Arcane: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to knowledge or information that is known by very few people and is often difficult to understand.

• The ancient rituals were arcane and only understood by a few chosen members of the tribe
• The professor's lecture on quantum physics was full of arcane concepts

Best used when describing something that is difficult to explain or understand, often evoking curiosity and wonder.

• The abandoned house at the edge of the village was shrouded in a mysterious aura
• She had a mysterious charm that captivated everyone who met her

Appropriate for subjects or knowledge intended to be understood by a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.

• The book contains esoteric philosophical theories that are comprehensible only to scholars in the field
• His taste in music is quite esoteric, favoring rare and unheard-of genres

Refers to supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena; can have a negative connotation implying something hidden and potentially sinister.

• The group was rumored to practice occult rituals in the dead of night
• He was fascinated by the occult and spent hours reading about witchcraft and spellcasting

Used to describe something very old-fashioned or understood by only a few people, often because it is complex or obscure.

• The rituals of the ancient tribe were arcane and mysterious.
• The professor's knowledge of arcane languages impressed his students.

Refers to information that is intentionally kept hidden from others.

• She promised to keep his secret.
• The recipe for the sauce is a family secret.

Describes something that is not understood or known, often provoking curiosity.

• The strange disappearance of the ship remains a mystery.
• The novel is full of suspense and mystery.

Refers to a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

• Despite years of research, the scientist remained an enigma.
• The ancient ruins were an enigma to the archaeologists.