exploitation

[ ek-sploi-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. use or utilization, especially for profit:

   the exploitation of newly discovered oil fields.

2. selfish utilization:

   He got ahead through the exploitation of his friends.

3. the combined, often varied, use of public-relations and advertising techniques to promote a person, movie, product, etc.

Other Words From

• ex·ploi·ta·tion·al adjective
• ex·ploi·ta·tion·al·ly adverb
• non·ex·ploi·ta·tion noun
• o·ver·ex·ploi·ta·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploitation¹

From French, dating back to 1795–1805; exploit ², -ation

Example Sentences

Until the firm collapsed early this year, it was an agent for the exploitation of laborers who were often underpaid and working in unsafe conditions, all while shielding brands from direct responsibility.

From New York Times

Supt Doug Downing said exploitation can take many forms, with the crimes being committed by those under duress extending from "drug dealing right the way through to high-value thefts and violence".

From BBC

A “master plan” had been drawn up to improve health and education, transport connections and recreational facilities for the island’s residents, and to develop the fishing sector and the exploitation of coconut by-products, he said.

From BBC

The Home Office will also invest £24m in the new financial year to tackle international organised crime affecting the UK including drugs and firearms, fraud, trafficking and exploitation.

From BBC

Snapchat told the BBC it had "zero tolerance" of the sexual exploitation of young people, and had extra safety measures in place for teens and their parents.

From BBC

More About Exploitation

What does exploitation mean?

Exploitation is the act of selfishly taking advantage of someone or a group of people in order to profit from them or otherwise benefit oneself.

Exploitation is a noun form of the verb exploit, which commonly means to take advantage in such a way. The adjective form is exploitative, as in exploitative practices. 

As a verb, exploit can also be used in a more neutral way that doesn’t imply selfishness: to make the best use of something, especially an opportunity, or to create a profit or other benefit. But when the verb is applied to people, it is always used negatively.

Exploitation can also be used in a way that means the use of something, especially for profit, as in Since we have these resources, we should make sure that the exploitation of them maximizes revenue. 

Still, exploitation is most commonly used in a negative way. One phrase in which it has this negative sense is exploitation film, a low-budget movie characterized by extreme violence, excessive gore, gratuitous sex, or other content meant to shock, disgust, or titillate.

The related term blaxploitation refers to the exploitation of Black people and stereotypes about them, especially in movies featuring or intending to appeal to Black people.

Example: The exploitation of workers to maximize profit is sadly widespread.

Where does exploitation come from?

The first records of the word exploitation come from right around 1800. It’s base word, exploit, is recorded much earlier and derives from the Latin explicātus, meaning “unfolded” or “set forth.” It wasn’t until around the 1800s that exploit started to be used to refer to extracting natural resources from the earth, and then to using someone or something for one’s own selfish ends.

Exploitation is most often used negatively, especially when it refers to taking advantage of people. It is often used in the context of the exploitation of workers by businesses that underpay and overwork them, or take advantage of them in other ways. Exploitation often implies that it’s being done by people who are in positions of power to those without power. Poor people and people of color are often targets of such exploitation.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to exploitation?

• exploit (verb)
• exploitational (adjective)
• exploitationally (adverb)
• nonexploitation (noun)
• overexploitation (noun)

What are some synonyms for exploitation?

• abuse
• use

What are some words that share a root or word element with exploitation? 

 

• exploitative
• explicit
• explicate

What are some words that often get used in discussing exploitation?

 

• workers
• poor
• profit
• advantage
• greed
• unethical

How is exploitation used in real life?

Exploitation is most commonly used in a negative way, especially in the context of people who are being exploited for profit.

The hardest working person in the world likely lives in poverty

Hard work almost never translates into huge wealth. But exploitation of working people often does. The hard work myth needs to die

— The Pileus (@thepileus) June 11, 2020

Human rights abuses, poverty pay and hellish working conditions in the developing world, pollution and waste, exploitation all along the supply chain: your cheap clothes come at a huge cost, for other people #pennys

— John Maguire (@JMaguireCritic) June 12, 2020

So again the people want to feel honestly part of this land and companies want the ability to exploit it without regard. This is just the same exploitation we see of the environment. People are ignored for $$$

— Oliver Yates (@_Oliver_Yates) June 11, 2020

 

 

Try using exploitation!

True or False? 

The word exploitation is always used in a negative way.