exposure
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for exposure, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The state of being unprotected from something harmful, such as weather, disease, or danger.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use exposure
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
Formed from expose plus the noun ending -ure.
Full origin of exposure →Frequently asked questions
What does “exposure” mean?
The word “exposure” means the state of being unprotected from something harmful, such as weather, disease, or danger. In plain terms, being open to something — weather, danger, publicity, or financial risk — or a single photograph.
How do you pronounce “exposure”?
“Exposure” is pronounced ihk-SPOH-zhuh (/ɪkˈspoʊ.ʒɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “exposure” in a sentence?
Here is “exposure” used in a sentence: “The climbers suffered from exposure after being stranded overnight.”
What part of speech is “exposure”?
“Exposure” is a noun.
Is “exposure” a common word?
“Exposure” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “exposure” have?
“Exposure” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of being unprotected from something harmful, such as weather, disease, or danger.
What does it mean to die of exposure?
Dying of exposure means death caused by being unprotected from harsh conditions, usually extreme cold or heat. In cold weather it results from hypothermia, when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. The phrase describes the fatal effect of prolonged, unprotected exposure to the elements.
What does 'exposure' mean in medicine?
In medicine and public health, exposure means coming into contact with something that could harm you — a virus, bacteria, radiation, or a toxic substance — without protection. Being exposed does not guarantee illness, but it creates the risk. Reducing exposure through hygiene or protective gear lowers that risk.
What are the types of exposure?
In the sense of being unprotected, exposure can be to the weather or elements, to disease and infection, to radiation or chemicals, or to danger in general. The word has separate meanings too — media exposure means publicity, and in photography exposure is the amount of light reaching the sensor.