: known or knowable only to a few people : secret
arcane rites
an arcane ritual
Examples of arcane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since the 2015 Paris COP, Article 6 negotiations were the forum for some of the most arcane and hair-splitting debates in climate politics, and a reliable target for activists claiming the whole thing is a scam.
—
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
The third study is a little more arcane.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025
At play in Gómez’s case is a decades-old immigration law that uses arcane vocabulary.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Lyra also has the ability to read an alethiometer, a marvelous magical device—the titular compass—that can answer any question, but only by way of arcane symbols.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
The third study is a little more arcane.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025
At play in Gómez’s case is a decades-old immigration law that uses arcane vocabulary.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Lyra also has the ability to read an alethiometer, a marvelous magical device—the titular compass—that can answer any question, but only by way of arcane symbols.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arcane. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share