plural exponents
1
a
: someone who supports a particular cause, belief, etc.
He was a leading exponent [=supporter, proponent] of the civil rights movement.
b
: someone who is known for a particular method, style, etc.
She has become one of America's foremost exponents of the romantic style in interior design.
2
mathematics
: a symbol that is written above and to the right of a number to show how many times the number is to be multiplied by itself
The exponent 3 in 103 indicates 10 x 10 x 10.
Cite this Entry
“Exponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/exponent. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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