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

No exploitation was depicted here, no brutal birth of empire, no hint of a Catholic faith that the society, and most Americans, feared and abhorred. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Tina Wolfson, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, said the case also centers on Meta’s surveillance of people’s lives without their consent and the exploitation of their image and likeness. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Hutcheson is also wanted in Indiana for two counts of child molesting, two counts of rape, and two counts of child exploitation, the sheriff’s office said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

The challenge is making the economics of working locally in Canada, including leveraging currency savings and tax credits, to allow for international exploitation. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

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