arcane

adjective

ar·​cane är-ˈkān 

: known or knowable only to a few people : secret

arcane rites

an arcane ritual

broadly : mysterious, obscure

arcane explanations

arcane technical details

Synonyms of arcane

• esoteric
• profound

Examples of arcane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So why is a space reporter writing about this arcane corner of American history? — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026

The process was an arcane, possibly unworkable attempt to solve a problem—widespread noncitizen voting—that simply doesn’t exist. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

The cat had blood pouring from its mouth and was surrounded by arcane symbols scrawled on the walls, court documents show. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026

The tracks were all exactly five minutes long, which lent further mystery, as if they’d been produced by some arcane assembly line. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin arcānus "secret, private, intimate," from arca "chest, coffer, box" + -ānus -an entry 2 — more at ark

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for arcane

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign
• cetane