exposure

noun

ex·​po·​sure ik-ˈspō-zhər 

1

: the fact or condition of being exposed: such as

a

: the condition of being presented to view or made known

a politician seeks a lot of exposure

b

: the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather

died of exposure

c

: the condition of being subject to some effect or influence

risk exposure to the flu

d

: the condition of being at risk of financial loss

minimizes your exposure to market fluctuations

also : an amount at risk

2

: the act or an instance of exposing: such as

a

: disclosure of something secret

tried to prevent exposure of their past

b

: the treating of sensitized material (such as film) to controlled amounts of radiant energy

also : the amount of such energy or length of such treatment

a 3-second exposure

3

a

: the manner of being exposed

b

: the position (as of a house) with respect to weather influences or compass points

a room with a southern exposure

4

: a piece or section of sensitized material (such as film) on which an exposure is or can be made

36 exposures per roll

Synonyms

• liability
• openness
• vulnerability

Examples of exposure in a Sentence

children's exposure to violence on television

He risks exposure to ridicule by saying such things in public.

The candidates are competing for television exposure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rumpler said, however, that the new rule is a significant step in reducing PFAS exposure overall. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 20 Apr. 2024

Protect your lungs:Here's how to help lower ozone levels going into the hotter weather To avoid health risks associated with ozone: Reduce exposure by playing and exercising outdoors before noon. —Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

The request sought to prevent AVCA from spraying within a two-mile radius of Christian’s home to reduce toxic exposure from inhalation and drift. —Scott Schwebke, Orange County Register, 19 Apr. 2024

According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, agricultural workers are more likely to be susceptible to illnesses related to their exposure to toxic chemicals and pesticides. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

An acquisition of Paramount would significantly increase its exposure to traditional TV channels, which have been losing viewers to streaming. —Lucas Shaw, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

These risks are in the context of external acute exposure to high levels of the chemical, or ingestion of the chemical on its own, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust and causes severe forms of black lung disease after even a few years of exposure. —Matthew Daly and Leah Willingham, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024

This helps increase the amount of fluoride exposure and remineralizes your teeth. —Claire Gillespie, Health, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing exposure

• exposure meter
• indecent exposure
• pre-exposure
• pre-exposure prophylaxis
• re-exposure
• time exposure

Kids Definition

exposure

noun

ex·​po·​sure ik-ˈspō-zhər 

1

: the fact or condition of being exposed

exposure to cold

2

a

: the act or an instance of exposing

b

: the act of letting light expose photographic film

also : the amount or length of time of such exposure

3

: a position with respect to direction

a southern exposure

4

: a section of a film for a single picture

36 exposures per roll of film

Medical Definition

exposure

noun

ex·​po·​sure ik-ˈspō-zhər 

1

: the fact or condition of being exposed: as

a

: the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather

the hiker died of exposure after becoming lost in the snowstorm

b

: the condition of being subject to some detrimental effect or harmful condition

repeated exposure to bronchial irritants

risk exposure to the flu

benign skin discolorations caused by sun exposure

—Katie Tyndall

2

: the act or an instance of exposing see indecent exposure

Legal Definition

exposure

noun

ex·​po·​sure

1

: the fact or condition of being exposed

also : the possibility of loss caused by an outside source

—used in insurance

2

: the act or an instance of exposing

3

a

: something that exposes someone or something

b

: something (as a condition, situation, or action) that creates a risk of financial loss especially for which one may be insured

two forms of insurance are needed to cover the exposure fully

—R. I. Mehr

also : the extent to which one is at risk