# exploitation

Pronunciation: US say "ek-sploy-TAY-shuhn" /ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃn̩/; UK

## Noun

1. Improper use of something for one's own selfish gain.
   - Simple: Using something in an unfair, wrong way to help only yourself.
   - _His exploitation of the tax loophole let him avoid paying his fair share._
   - _The company's exploitation of the data breach for profit shocked its investors._
2. The act of taking from someone, by force, something they are entitled to, or the condition that results.
   - Simple: Treating people unfairly by taking away what should rightfully be theirs.
   - _Labor unions formed to resist the exploitation of factory workers in the 1800s._
   - _The report documented the systematic exploitation of migrant farmhands._
3. The act of making practical use of something, especially developing resources or land for productive ends.
   - Simple: Putting something to good use, such as developing land or natural resources.
   - _Improved technology made the exploitation of deep-sea fisheries possible._
   - _The country's prosperity rested on the exploitation of its vast coal reserves._
4. The commercial marketing and promotion of a film to draw audiences and maximize ticket sales.
   - Simple: The work of advertising a movie so that more people want to watch it.
   - _The studio's exploitation of the sequel began a full year before its release._
   - _Strong word-of-mouth helped, but careful exploitation drove the opening weekend._

## Origin

Borrowed from French exploitation, from exploiter ("exploit"), which traces back to Latin explicō ("unfold, deploy").

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