exposition

noun ex·po·si·tion \ ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən \

Definition of exposition

1 :a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing)

2 a :discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand

b (1) :the first part of a musical composition in sonata form in which the thematic material of the movement is presented

(2) :the opening section of a fugue

3 :a public exhibition or show

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expositional

play \ˌek-spə-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-nᵊl\ adjective

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Examples of exposition in a Sentence

This is not an easy book, and the reader may find the layers of detail challenging. There are long expositions of the knotty tangles of monarchical lineage, and the necessary chronicle of historical events occasionally consumes the novel's narrative drive. —Lucy Lethbridge, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
He is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly. —Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
Although they were invited to use an early X ray machine on display at the exposition, they turned down the offer, and they never found the bullet. —T. Burton Smith, American Heritage, September 1992
The subject requires some exposition.
a clear exposition of his ideas

Recent Examples of exposition from the Web

Kurt Johnstad’s screenplay is a jumble of tongue-twisting foreign names and clunky exposition interrupted by periodic outbursts of violence.

— robert w. butler, kansascity, "In sexy ‘Atomic Blonde,’ Charlize Theron makes the Cold War hot," 26 July 2017
Richemont is also buying back the license to produce Chloe footwear -- a fast-growing category for luxury brands -- and renovating a five-story center in central Paris to house the brand’s showrooms as well as art expositions and events.

— Bloomberg.com, "Hippie-Chic Chloe’s Bags Sell Even as Richemont’s Watches Languish," 21 July 2017
In showing us all this eerily mannered pandemonium, Nolan informs us of the film’s surreal stakes without doling out any wooden exposition.

— richard lawson, vanityfair.com, "Gorgeous, Gripping Dunkirk Is This Summer’s Most Surprising Movie," 20 July 2017
There are no brothers in arms, no flashbacks to simpler times and pretty wives and girlfriends left behind, no old men in situation rooms pontificating about politics or helping with exposition.

— lindsey bahr, Cincinnati.com, "Review: ‘Dunkirk’ is the best film of the year," 20 July 2017
One version, disputed by hot dog historians, has it that a sausage-maker at a 1904 exposition in St. Louis began wrapping his hot sausages in bread after customers walked off with too many of his gloves.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "It’s National Hot Dog Day! So, where are the deals?," 19 July 2017
And that’s about all the exposition Nolan supplies. Unseen enemy gunfire drives a panicked Tommy (newcomer Fionn Whitehead) to the beach, where several hundred thousand troops await rescue while the Luftwaffe strafes them.

— jon niccum, kansascity, "What’d he say? ‘Dunkirk’ fights the good fight, but parts are unintelligible," 19 July 2017
An exposition in New Orleans in 1883 helped introduce the vine to the South, and by 1900, kudzu seeds were sold as an ornamental vine to shade porches and courtyards of Southern homes.

— dennis pillion | dpillion@al.com, AL.com, "What do kudzu and coal have in common: 17 nuggets about the South's most invasive plant," 19 July 2017
The site was Balboa Park, where buildings left over from a 1915 exposition were awaiting new uses.

— jeanette steele, sandiegouniontribune.com, "100 years of Navy medicine in San Diego," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exposition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.