What does "exploitation" mean?
The act of utilizing something; industry.
Exploitation
/ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃn̩/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of utilizing something; industry.
- Grammar: exploitation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abusing, application, capitalizing, depredations.
- Useful contrasts: ecological management, environmental preservation, fair trade farming.
- Usage evidence: Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Communism is the exact opposite.
How to use "exploitation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "exploitation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "exploitation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "exploitation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "exploitation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "exploitation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abusing" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "exploitation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of utilizing something; industry. countable, uncountable
"Whereas in the middle ages the idea of acquiring wealth was limited by a body of moral rules imposed under the sanction of religious authority, after 1500 those rules, and the institutions, habits, and ideas to which they had given birth, were no longer deemed adequate. They were felt as constraint. There were evaded, criticized, abandoned, because it was felt that they interfered with the exploitation of the means of production."
- 2 an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly) wordnet
- 3 The improper use of something for selfish purposes. countable, uncountable
"the exploitation of children in beauty pageants"
- 4 the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful wordnet
- 5 The act or result of forcibly depriving someone of something to which they have a right. countable, uncountable
"Undocumented migrants are vulnerable to exploitation."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The marketing and promotion of a film. countable, uncountable
"This territory continued to be the greatest field for the exploitation and distribution of our films non-theatrically, […]"
Antonyms
ecological managementenvironmental preservationfair trade farmingnatural resource preservation
Example
"Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Communism is the exact opposite."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "exploitation"?
Common synonyms include: abusing, application, capitalizing, depredations, development, employment.
How do you use "exploitation" in a sentence?
Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Communism is the exact opposite.
How do you pronounce "exploitation"?
Pronounced /ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃn̩/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French exploitation, from exploiter (“exploit”), from Latin explicō (“unfold, deploy”).