hidden knowledge
Information kept secret
Hidden knowledge is information that exists but is concealed, restricted, or not readily accessible.
The phrase often carries mystical or conspiratorial overtones—occult traditions promise hidden knowledge to initiates, while conspiracy theories claim powerful groups suppress hidden knowledge from the public.
More neutrally, it can mean expertise that isn't written down: Much of the craft exists as hidden knowledge, passed from master to apprentice.
The appeal of hidden knowledge lies in the assumption that what's concealed must be valuable.
- secretConcealed information
- secret societyCovert fraternal organization
- inner circleExclusive group of confidants
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
- esotericAccessible to few
occult · arcane · mystery · forbidden · forbidden fruit · ancient · lost civilization · wisdom · oral tradition · cryptic · veiled · obscure · initiation · revelation · cipher · manuscript · scrolls · enlightenment
- secret societiesFreemasons, Illuminati, secret society, secret societies, Masons
- literary librariesforbidden books, rare books, secret archives, ancient texts, dusty shelves
- esotericismoccult, gnosis, arcana, esoterica, mysteries
- Gnosticismgnosis, aeons, archons, aeon, demiurge
- occultismesotericism, black magic, hermeticism, necromancy, Kabbalah
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
hidden knowledgecommon knowledge
Widely shared information
public knowledge · general knowledge · common sense · universal knowledge · public information
hidden knowledgecommon sense
Native practical judgment
basic facts · accepted truth · truism · axiom · given
hidden, hide, hides, hiding, hider, unhidden, knowledge, know, knows