Definition of exoteric in US English:

adjective

• (especially of a doctrine or mode of speech) intended for or likely to be understood by the general public.

  ‘an exoteric, literal meaning and an esoteric, inner teaching’

  The opposite of esoteric

  More example sentences

  • ‘Some religious books counted as mere exoteric teaching for the masses.’
  • ‘This seems untrue to me, since the Will to Power was merely Nietzsche's exoteric doctrine.’
  • ‘The ordinary people are required to accept the Quran in its literal or exoteric sense whereas the philosophers have much more discretion in interpreting scriptural truth.’
  • ‘They believed also in esoteric meanings accessible only to the powerful elite, as opposed to exoteric doctrine suitable for the masses.’
  • ‘By contrast with his exoteric presentation at Birkbeck a week ago, his lecture last night - aimed ‘at comrades’ - was a much more focused affair.’