exponent

[ ik-spoh-nuhnt, ek-spoh-nuhnt ]

noun

1. a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets:

   an exponent of modern theory in the arts.

   Synonyms: promoter, proponent, champion, supporter

2. a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something:

   Lincoln is an exponent of American democracy.

   Synonyms: personification, embodiment

3. Mathematics. a symbol or number placed above and after another symbol or number to denote the power to which the latter is to be raised:

   The exponents of the quantities xn, 2m, y4, and 35 are, respectively, n, m, 4, and 5.

exponent

/ ɪkˈspəʊnənt /

noun

1. usually foll by of a person or thing that acts as an advocate (of an idea, cause, etc)
2. a person or thing that explains or interprets
3. a performer or interpretive artist, esp a musician
4. Also calledpowerindex maths a number or variable placed as a superscript to the right of another number or quantity indicating the number of times the number or quantity is to be multiplied by itself

adjective

1. offering a declaration, explanation, or interpretation

exponent

/ ĕk′spō′nənt,ĭk-spō′nənt /

1. A number or symbol, placed above and to the right of the expression to which it applies, that indicates the number of times the expression is used as a factor. For example, the exponent 3 in 5 ³ indicates 5 × 5 × 5; the exponent x in ( a + b ) ^x indicates ( a + b ) multiplied by itself x times.

Word History and Origins

Origin of exponent¹

1575–85; < Latin expōnent- (stem of expōnēns ), present participle of expōnere to expound; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of exponent¹

C16: from Latin expōnere to set out, expound, from pōnere to set, place

Example Sentences

Gould was then a world-famous exponent of the music of J.S.

From Los Angeles Times

They are the quantum analog of Lyapunov exponents, which measure unpredictability in classical chaotic systems.

From Science Daily

Its message was spread across the world in the 1970s by Marley — the faith’s most famous exponent.

From Seattle Times

Conservative arguments have long based on shoddy evidence, but once upon a time their exponents tried to pound them into a logic-shaped appearance.

From Salon

Their functions included computing higher-order multiplications, exponents and logarithms, among other mathematical operations.

From New York Times

Related Words

• interpreter
• proponent