exposition

[ ek-spuh-zish-uhn ]

noun

1. a large-scale public exhibition or show, as of art or manufactured products:

   an exposition of 19th-century paintings; an automobile exposition.

   Synonyms: presentation, display, demonstration, exhibit

2. the act of expounding, setting forth, or explaining:

   the exposition of a point of view.

3. writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or to explain; a detailed statement or explanation; explanatory treatise:

   The students prepared expositions on familiar essay topics.

   Synonyms: elucidation, explication, exegesis, interpretation, critique, commentary

4. the act of presenting to view; display:

   The singer gave a splendid exposition of vocal talent.

5. exposure ( def 12 ).
6. the state of being uncovered, revealed, or otherwise exposed; exposure.
7. Music. the first section of a fugue or a sonata form, in which the principal themes normally are introduced.
8. (in a play, novel, etc.) dialogue, description, etc., that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation.

exposition

/ ˌɛkspəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a systematic, usually written statement about, commentary on, or explanation of a specific subject
2. the act of expounding or setting forth information or a viewpoint
3. a large public exhibition, esp of industrial products or arts and crafts
4. the act of exposing or the state of being exposed
5. the part of a play, novel, etc, in which the theme and main characters are introduced
6. music the first statement of the subjects or themes of a movement in sonata form or a fugue
7. RC Church the exhibiting of the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic for public veneration

Derived Forms

• ˌexpoˈsitional, adjective

Other Words From

• expo·sition·al adjective
• preex·po·sition noun
• reex·po·sition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exposition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English exposicioun, exposicyon, from Old French exposition, from Latin expositiōn- (stem of expositiō “exposure (of an infant to die); statement, description),” equivalent to exposit(us); + -iōn- ; expose, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of exposition¹

C14: from Latin expositiō a setting forth, from expōnere to display; see exponent

Example Sentences

The green fossils are each wrapped in a plaster jacket and carefully loaded into a truck for the 700-mile drive to the museum at Exposition Park.

From Los Angeles Times

There was no pageantry or grand exposition behind its reason for being.

From Los Angeles Times

Schneider kicks off each Great Walk at a landmark, such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Shrine Auditorium or the Exposition Park Rose Garden, where there’s typically a guest speaker giving a pep talk.

From Los Angeles Times

So the walk will start downtown at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park near USC’s campus and end on UCLA’s campus at the Bruin Statue.

From Los Angeles Times

If you are attending the USC game, the Los Angeles Metro E Line has two stops along Exposition Boulevard that leave you right outside of the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times