exploitation
UK: ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən | US: ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən
n. the act of utilizing or manipulating resources, labor, or situations for profit, often unfairly
n. the development and utilization of natural resources or technology
n. (computing) the use of vulnerabilities in software for unauthorized access
exploitation = exploit<utilize> + ation<noun suffix>
- exploit: From Old French esploit (achievement, profit), derived from Latin explicāre (to unfold, utilize). The modern sense of "utilize for profit" emerged in the 19th century.
- ation: A noun-forming suffix from Latin -ātiō, indicating an action or process.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin explicāre (to unfold), which evolved into Old French esploit (practical achievement). By the 1800s, "exploit" shifted to emphasize utilization, often with a connotation of unfair advantage. The suffix -ation formalized it as a noun describing the process of such utilization.
The exploitation of workers in sweatshops sparked global protests.
Sustainable exploitation of forests balances economic and ecological needs.
Cybersecurity experts patched the software to prevent exploitation by hackers.
Colonial history often involved the exploitation of natural resources.
The documentary exposed the exploitation of loopholes in tax laws.