illuminati
UK: ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti | US: ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti
n. 1. A purported secret society claiming to possess enlightenment or hidden knowledge, often associated with conspiracy theories.
n. 2. (Historical) A group of 16th-century Spanish mystics or 18th-century Bavarian freethinkers advocating rationalism and opposition to superstition.
illuminati = illumin<light> + ati<plural noun suffix>
- illumin (from Latin illuminare, "to light up, enlighten")
- ati (Latin plural suffix denoting a group, as in literati or cognoscenti)
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin illuminatus ("enlightened"), the term originally described intellectual or spiritual enlightenment. The Bavarian Illuminati (founded 1776) adopted it to symbolize their pursuit of reason, while modern conspiracy theories reinterpret it as a shadowy elite. The morpheme illumin preserves the core idea of "light" as knowledge, while -ati marks it as a collective.
The Illuminati are often depicted as puppet masters in popular conspiracy lore.
Historical illuminati groups sought to combat religious dogma through science.
Some believe the Illuminati control global events through hidden symbols.
The term illuminati appears in Dan Brown’s novels about secret societies.
Scholars dismiss claims of a modern Illuminati as baseless mythology.