What does gnostic mean?
Gnostic most commonly refers to the Gnostic traditions, a diverse group of late-antique religious and philosophical systems that placed great emphasis on secret, esoteric, or spiritual knowledge. As an adjective, it describes teachings, texts, groups, and practices associated with those traditions; as a noun, a gnostic is a member of such a group. In older or literary usage, gnostic can also mean knowledgeable, but this is rare today. The word should not be used as a general synonym for mysterious, complicated, or unconventional, nor should it be confused with agnostic, which expresses uncertainty about the existence or nature of ultimate knowledge. Its specialized historical meaning is valuable in discussions of religion, philosophy, comparative mythology, and the development of early Christianity.
Relating to Gnosticism or to the esoteric teachings and practices associated with Gnostic traditions; rarely, knowledgeable or possessing knowledge.
"The museum owns several important manuscripts of Gnostic texts."
Capitalize Gnostic when it refers specifically to the historical Gnostic traditions and their associated literature, practices, or groups.
A member or adherent of a Gnostic tradition.
"The Gnostics developed a complex system of spiritual interpretation."
The usual plural is Gnostics, often capitalized in historical contexts.
The plural refers to members or adherents of Gnostic traditions and is commonly capitalized as Gnostics in historical writing.
"Early Gnostics interpreted scripture through elaborate symbolic systems."
Gnostic literally means of knowledge: the word began as a reference to knowledge before becoming shorthand for religious traditions built around esoteric teachings.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gnostic come from?
The word entered English through Latin gnosticus, from Greek gnōstikos, meaning of knowledge and derived from gnōstos, meaning known, with an ultimate connection to the Greek verb for to know. It developed in reference to the Gnostics, members of early religious movements that taught esoteric knowledge. Its older sense of knowledgeable also reflects the word's literal association with knowledge.
Related word forms
How gnostic is actually used
When referring to the historical religious traditions and their adherents, Gnostic is normally capitalized. The rare sense meaning knowledgeable is literary or archaic and is not the usual modern meaning of the word.
Easily confused with gnostic
A gnostic is associated with a tradition that claims special or esoteric knowledge, whereas an agnostic holds that the existence or nature of ultimate knowledge is uncertain or unestablished.