ˌekˌsplȯiˈtāshən sometimes _ik- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from exploiter to exploit (from Old French exploitier, expleitier, esploitier, espleitier to achieve, perform) + -ation
1. : an act of exploiting
here we get incessant exploitation of the author's social and political observations — F.B.Millett
widespread exploitation of antibiotics for nonmedical use — Americana Annual
as
a. : utilization or working of a natural resource
the sheep … finds its living by exploitation of pastures — Allan Fraser
exploitation of water power
sometimes : a wasteful or destructive utilization of a natural resource
the spectacular results of uncontrolled exploitation of the soil … awakened the American people to their danger — K.D.White
b. : an unjust or improper use of another person for one's own profit or advantage
exploitation of the tourist destroys trade — Americas
specifically : utilization of the labor power of another person without giving a just or equivalent return
that magic word “colonies”, which means “trusteeship” to an Englishman and exploitation in Karachi or Delhi — Economist
capitalist exploitation
c. : coaction between organisms in which one is benefited at the expense of the other — used especially of relationships (as that between an epiphyte and the plant on which it grows) in which the effect is less extreme than in parasitism or predation
2. : publicity , advertising
allotted … $250,000 for the film's new exploitation campaign — Newsweek
the exploitation that a dozen American composers are getting today — Deems Taylor
• ex·ploi·ta·tion·ist -sh(ə)nə̇st adjective