noun
Common
exposure
ihk-SPOH-zhuh
Exposure (noun) means the state of being unprotected from something harmful, such as weather, disease, or danger. Example: “The climbers suffered from exposure after being stranded overnight.”
noun
1
The state of being unprotected from something harmful, such as weather, disease, or danger.
"The climbers suffered from exposure after being stranded overnight."
"Long-term exposure to the sun can damage your skin."
"Wear gloves to limit your exposure to the cold wind."
2
Public attention or visibility, especially for a person, brand, or issue.
"The scandal gave the charity unwanted exposure in the press."
"The young band got great exposure when a radio presenter played their song."
"Appearing on the morning show gave the bakery plenty of exposure."
3
A single photograph, or the amount of light let onto film or a sensor when taking one.
"She adjusted the exposure to capture the sunset properly."
"Use a longer exposure at night so the camera can gather enough light."
"I took three exposures of the bridge and kept the sharpest one."
4
The amount of financial risk a person or company faces.
"The bank reduced its exposure to the volatile market."
"The company's heavy exposure to one big customer worried its investors."
"Spreading your savings across several funds reduces your exposure to loss."
How to use exposure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing open to something — weather, danger, publicity, or financial risk — or a single photograph.
Common pairings
media exposure
exposure to risk
die of exposure
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Word forms
- Plural
- exposures
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The climbers suffered from _____ after being stranded overnight.
Etymology
Formed from expose plus the noun ending -ure.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for exposure
See all rhymes for 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.
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