adj · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈɒk.ʌlt/
UK:/əˈkʌlt/
US:/əˈkʌlt/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ʌlt
CMU ARPABET:AH0 K AH1 L T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: medicine, sciences
Examples
occult blood loss; occult cancer
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
not visible, but chemically detectable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: medicine, sciences
Examples
occult blood in the urine
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Related to the occult; pertaining to mysticism, magic, or astrology.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Esoteric.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Supernatural affairs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She doesn't believe in the supernatural
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: supernatural
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: causal agent, cause, causal agency
12
verb
Meaning 12
hide from view
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The lids were occulting her eyes
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conceal, hold back, hold in
13
verb
Meaning 13
become concealed or hidden from view or have its light extinguished
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The beam of light occults every so often
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change
14
verb
Meaning 14
cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The Sun eclipses the moon today
Planets and stars often are occulted by other celestial bodies
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: eclipse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: overshadow
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1óp(i) Proto-Italic *op Latin ob Latin ob- Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- Proto-Indo-European *ḱéletider. Latin *celo Latin occulō Latin occultusbor. English occult Borrowed from Latin occultus (“hidden, secret”).
Across languages
Translations
121 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
ծածուկ
(cacuk)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Armenian:
գաղտնի
(gaġtni)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Armenian:
թաքուն
(tʻakʻun)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Armenian:
խորհրդավոր
(xorhrdavor)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Bulgarian:
таен
(taen)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Bulgarian:
поверителен
(poveritelen)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Catalan:
ocult
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Catalan:
amagat
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Czech:
okultní
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Czech:
skrytý
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Dutch:
verborgen
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Dutch:
latent
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Finnish:
piilevä
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Finnish:
salainen
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
German:
okkult
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Italian:
latente
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Italian:
celato
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Italian:
recondito
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Italian:
nascosto
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Norwegian:
okkult
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Norwegian:
skjult
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Persian:
نهان
(nahân)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Persian:
پنهان
(penhân)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Persian:
مخفی
(maxfi)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Portuguese:
oculto
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Portuguese:
ocultado
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Russian:
скры́тый
(skrýtyj)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Russian:
та́йный
(tájnyj)
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Turkish:
gizli
— secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
Bulgarian:
тайнствен
(tajnstven)
— related to the occult
Bulgarian:
окултен
(okulten)
— related to the occult
Catalan:
ocult
— related to the occult
Chinese Mandarin:
神秘的
(shénmì de)
— related to the occult
Czech:
okultní
— related to the occult
Danish:
okkult
— related to the occult
Dutch:
occult
— related to the occult
Finnish:
yliluonnollinen
— related to the occult
Finnish:
salattu
— related to the occult
French:
occulte
— related to the occult
German:
okkult
— related to the occult
Hungarian:
okkult
— related to the occult
Ido:
okulta
— related to the occult
Italian:
occulto
— related to the occult
Kazakh:
оккульттық
(okkulttyq)
— related to the occult
Norwegian:
okkult
— related to the occult
Persian:
رازآمیز
(râz-âmiz)
— related to the occult
Portuguese:
oculto
— related to the occult
Russian:
окку́льтный
(okkúlʹtnyj)
— related to the occult
Ukrainian:
оку́льтний
(okúlʹtnyj)
— related to the occult