# exploit

Pronunciation: say "ik-SPLOYT" /ɪksˈplɔɪt/

## Verb

1. To make unfair use of another person's labor, body, or property for one's own gain.
   - Simple: To use someone's work, body, or property in an unfair way to help yourself.
   - _Factory owners exploited the workers, demanding long shifts for tiny wages._
   - _Traffickers exploit vulnerable migrants who have nowhere else to turn._
2. To use something to advantage, whether for one's own benefit or for the good of a wider community.
   - Simple: To use something fully so it brings a benefit to you or to other people.
   - _The company exploited new technology to cut production costs dramatically._
   - _Engineers exploit wind and sunlight to generate clean power for the city._

## Noun

Pronunciation: say "EKS-ployt" /ˈɛksplɔɪt/

3. A bold, daring, or extraordinary deed worthy of note.
   - Simple: A brave or amazing thing that someone does.
   - _The climber's exploit on the north face drew worldwide attention._
   - _Tales of their wartime exploits filled the old man's memoir._
4. A notable accomplishment or feat that reflects skill or effort.
   - Simple: A thing you have managed to do well, often after real effort.
   - _Landing the contract was the firm's biggest exploit of the year._
   - _Her academic exploits earned her a full scholarship._
5. A program or technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability in software to compromise it.
   - Simple: A piece of code that uses a weak spot in software to break in or cause harm.
   - _Security researchers published an exploit that bypassed the login screen entirely._
   - _Several exploits targeting the outdated server appeared online within hours._
6. A technique that takes advantage of a flaw or quirk in a video game to gain an unfair edge or to hinder other players.
   - Simple: A trick that uses a flaw in a game to win an unfair advantage over other players.
   - _Players discovered an exploit that let them clip straight through solid walls._
   - _The developers patched several exploits right after the tournament ended._

## Origin

From the Old French noun esploit and the verb esploitier.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/exploit (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).