Recondite refers to complex, obscure ideas that demand expertise, highlighting challenges of understanding specialized knowledge today.
Recondite means something difficult, abstruse, or obscure to understand. This is because it deals with technical or deeply specialized knowledge. These types of words you can use for ideas that are not easily accessible to the general public.
The word recondite comes from the Latin reconditus, which means “hidden” or “put away,” derived from recondere (“to hide”). earlier it referred to knowledge that was deliberately kept out of sight, reserved for scholars or experts. after long time, the meaning of these words has evolved to signify ideas that are not intentionally hidden but are inherently complex.
In today's time, recondite has found renewed relevance in fields like artificial intelligence, quantum physics, constitutional law, and advanced medical research, which often involve recondite concepts that can alienate non-experts. This had helped to create a growing gap between specialists and the public. In journalism, academia, and digital media, simplifying complex ideas without distorting facts has become a critical skill. The word also subtly reminds us why media literacy matters, so people can question, interpret, and understand complex information rather than disengage from it.
Phonetic: rek-uhn-dyt
IPA: /ˈrɛk.ən.daɪt/
“The professor’s lecture on quantum entanglement was fascinating but so recondite that most students struggled to follow it.”
Recondite collects tension between knowledge and accessibility. The deep, complex ideas drive progress; their real power lies in their clear communication. Understanding this word encourages us not to fear complexity but to bridge it thoughtfully.
