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Exploitative: meaning, definitions and examples

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exploitative

 

[ ɪkˈsplɔɪtətɪv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

social justice

Exploitative refers to situations or practices that take unfair advantage of individuals or groups, often for personal or financial gain. This term is frequently used to describe labor practices that underpay workers while making excessive profits. In a broader context, exploitative actions can apply to relationships or systems that dominate and oppress weaker parties. Understanding the nature of exploitative actions is crucial in combatting inequality and promoting fairness.

Synonyms

abusive, oppressive, unjust.

Examples of usage

  • The exploitative nature of the labor market leads to widespread poverty.
  • Many complain about the exploitative practices of the company.
  • They criticized the exploitative policies that harmed the environment.

Translations

Translations of the word "exploitative" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exploratório

🇮🇳 शोषणकारी

🇩🇪 ausbeuterisch

🇮🇩 eksploitasi

🇺🇦 експлуатаційний

🇵🇱 wyzyskujący

🇯🇵 搾取的な

🇫🇷 exploitant

🇪🇸 exploitador

🇹🇷 sömürücü

🇰🇷 착취적인

🇸🇦 استغلالي

🇨🇿 vykořisťovatelský

🇸🇰 využívajúci

🇨🇳 剥削性的

🇸🇮 izkoriščevalski

🇮🇸 nýtingar

🇰🇿 пайдаланушы

🇬🇪 ექსპლუატაციური

🇦🇿 istismarçı

🇲🇽 explotador

Etymology

The term 'exploitative' originates from the verb 'exploit,' which comes from the Latin 'exploitatio,' meaning 'to get a profit from.' The prefix 'ex-' means 'out of' or 'from' and 'pli' from 'plicare' means 'to fold.' Over time, 'exploit' evolved to describe the act of utilizing something to one's advantage, particularly in an unethical manner. The adjective form, 'exploitative,' emerged to emphasize the nature of the actions taken within this context. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as social consciousness around labor rights and social justice grew, the usage of 'exploitative' became more pronounced, often associated with critiques of capitalism and socioeconomic inequities. Today, it is commonly used in discussions related to human rights, labor exploitation, and corporate ethics.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,192, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.