exploitation

noun

ex·​ploi·​ta·​tion ˌek-ˌsplȯi-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of exploiting

exploitation of natural resources

exploitation of immigrant laborers

clever exploitation of the system

Examples of exploitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With one common denominator between many attacks being the exploitation of the supply chain, with such compromise enabling lateral movement onto bigger fish, this is evidence that businesses that might not consider themselves in the aviation, insurance or retail sectors are still at risk. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

Peter Guralnick’s beloved two-part Presley bio was definitive, but here, a great writer complicates old accusations of exploitation lobbed at Parker, using a ton of unreleased letters. —Christopher Borrelli, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025

In some states, such as Utah and Nevada, the government controls the vast majority of lands, protecting them from potential exploitation but hindering growth. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025

This is about putting patients first, stopping exploitation of the system, and realigning the program with the values of personal responsibility and fiscal discipline. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from exploiter "to exploit entry 2" + -ation -ation

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for exploitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation