Exploitation: meaning, definitions and examples

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exploitation

 

[ ˌɛk.sploɪˈteɪ.ʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

social

The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work. Exploitation often involves taking advantage of a power dynamic to exploit the labor or resources of others for personal gain.

Synonyms

abuse, manipulation, misuse

Examples of usage

  • The exploitation of workers in sweatshops is a major issue in many developing countries.
  • Child labor is a form of exploitation that must be eradicated worldwide.
  • She felt exploited by her boss who made her work long hours without proper compensation.
Context #2 | Noun

economic

The act of using someone or something in an unfair or selfish way to gain an advantage or profit. Economic exploitation often refers to the unfair treatment of workers in terms of wages, working conditions, or benefits.

Synonyms

oppression, subjugation, utilization

Examples of usage

  • The company was accused of exploitation for paying its employees below minimum wage.
  • Exploitation of natural resources without considering environmental impact is unsustainable.
  • Many multinational corporations engage in exploitation of labor in developing countries.

Translations

Translations of the word "exploitation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exploração

🇮🇳 शोषण

🇩🇪 Ausbeutung

🇮🇩 eksploitasi

🇺🇦 експлуатація

🇵🇱 wyzysk

🇯🇵 搾取 (さくしゅ)

🇫🇷 exploitation

🇪🇸 explotación

🇹🇷 sömürü

🇰🇷 착취 (착취)

🇸🇦 استغلال

🇨🇿 vykořisťování

🇸🇰 vykorisťovanie

🇨🇳 剥削 (bōxuè)

🇸🇮 izkoriščanje

🇮🇸 nýting

🇰🇿 қанау

🇬🇪 ექსპლუატაცია

🇦🇿 istismar

🇲🇽 explotación

Word origin

The word 'exploitation' originated from the Latin word 'exploitare', which means 'to utilize'. The term gained negative connotations over time, particularly in the context of unfair treatment or abuse for personal gain. Exploitation has been a prevalent issue throughout history, often associated with labor practices, colonialism, and economic inequality.

See also: exploit, exploitable, exploited, exploiter, exploiters, exploiting, exploits, underexploit, underexploitation.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,480 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.