Occult is used for things connected with supernaturalRelating to powers or beings beyond natural laws. forces, hidden or hard-to-understandDifficult to explain, learn, or make sense of. things, and in technical language for blockingPreventing something from being seen, moving, or passing through. or hiding something from view.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /əˈkʌlt/
Easy pronunciation: uh-KULT (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable.
Noun meaning: the supernatural world or its powers.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Occult Meaning
the supernatural world or its powers
Part of speech: noun
Definition: supernatural forces, events, or beings taken as a group
Example: She was interested in books about the occult.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- supernatural — Best fit for the noun meaning referring to supernatural forces and beings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Occult
Meaning 2
mystical practices or beliefs
Part of speech: noun
Definition: supernatural practices and techniques
Example: He studied the occult in college.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- occult arts — This is the supplied synonym for the sense of supernatural practices.
Meaning 3
mysterious or hard to understand
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: having a meaning not obvious to the senses or to ordinary understanding
Example: The letter had an occult meaning.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- mysterious — Strong everyday substitute for the adjective sense.
- mystic — Can work in some contexts, though it is less common than mysterious.
- mystical — Works in some contexts, but often leans more toward spiritual or religious meaning.
- secret — Can fit when the meaning is hidden, though it is broader and less exact.
Meaning 4
hidden from view or not easy to detect
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: hidden and difficult to see; not obvious on examination
Example: The scan revealed an occult fracture.
Meaning 5
block a star, planet, or moon from view
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cause an eclipse of a celestial body by moving in front of it
Example: The moon can occult a distant star.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- eclipse — Works as the closest substitute for the verb sense in astronomy.
Meaning 6
move into shadow or disappear from sight
Part of speech: verb
Definition: become concealed or hidden from view, or have light extinguished
Example: The sun occults behind the mountain at dusk.
Meaning 7
cover so it cannot be seen
Part of speech: verb
Definition: hide from view
Example: The curtain occulted the window.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Occult Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- supernatural
noun: supernatural practices and techniques
- occult arts
adjective: mysterious or beyond ordinary understanding
- mysterious
- mystic
- mystical
- secret
verb: cause an eclipse of a celestial body
- eclipse
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use occult to mean simply 'secret' in every context; some uses are specifically about supernatural ideas or technical astronomy.
- The adjective occult in medical phrases like 'occult blood' means hidden or hard to detect, not supernatural.
- The verb occult is technical and often appears in astronomy or medical descriptions.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does occult mean?
Occult can mean the supernatural world, supernatural practices, something hidden or hard to understand, or a technical verb meaning to block a celestial body from view.
What are the synonyms of occult?
It depends on the sense. For the adjective meaning, synonyms can include mysterious, mystic, mystical, or secret. For the noun meaning supernatural forces, supernatural is the closest match. For the astronomy verb, eclipse is the main synonym.
Is occult always about magic?
No. It can refer to supernatural beliefs and practices, but it is also used in technical or medical language to mean hidden or not easy to detect.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.