exposure

noun

ex·​po·​sure ik-ˈspō-zhər How to pronounce exposure (audio)
1
: the fact or condition of being exposed: such as
a
: the condition of being presented to view or made known
a politician seeks a lot of exposure
b
: the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather
died of exposure
c
: the condition of being subject to some effect or influence
risk exposure to the flu
d
: the condition of being at risk of financial loss
minimizes your exposure to market fluctuations
also : an amount at risk
2
: the act or an instance of exposing: such as
a
: disclosure of something secret
tried to prevent exposure of their past
b
: the treating of sensitized material (such as film) to controlled amounts of radiant energy
also : the amount of such energy or length of such treatment
a 3-second exposure
3
a
: the manner of being exposed
b
: the position (as of a house) with respect to weather influences or compass points
a room with a southern exposure
4
: a piece or section of sensitized material (such as film) on which an exposure is or can be made
36 exposures per roll

Examples of exposure in a Sentence

children's exposure to violence on television He risks exposure to ridicule by saying such things in public. The candidates are competing for television exposure.
Recent Examples on the Web The Cincinnati Health Department has been notified that there was a measles exposure at the venue during the 7 p.m. performance on Friday. Cheryl Vari, The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024 Forty-four percent reported exposure to one to three ACEs, and more than 38% reported four or more ACEs. Jennifer Chesak, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2024 Banks’ exposure to the struggling commercial real estate (CRE) sector is another factor that’s threatening stability, though. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 For many years, religious Zionist families were hesitant for their sons to fulfill Israel’s mandatory three-year army service, worried that exposure to secular peers would erode their faith. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Nuts that have a large surface area, like walnut halves, with their complex network of ridges and valleys, will go rancid faster because of a greater exposure to oxygen. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024 Nearly two dozen people were known to have been treated for chemical exposure related to the spill. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Symptoms typically begin seven to 14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days to appear. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 After the paramedics were convicted in December, the Aurora fire department took steps to lessen their paramedics’ exposure to criminal liability. Kelley Manley, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exposure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exposure was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near exposure

Cite this Entry

“Exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exposure. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exposure

noun
ex·​po·​sure ik-ˈspō-zhər How to pronounce exposure (audio)
1
: the fact or condition of being exposed
exposure to cold
2
a
: the act or an instance of exposing
b
: the act of letting light expose photographic film
also : the amount or length of time of such exposure
3
: a position with respect to direction
a southern exposure
4
: a section of a film for a single picture
36 exposures per roll of film

Medical Definition

exposure

noun
ex·​po·​sure ik-ˈspō-zhər How to pronounce exposure (audio)
1
: the fact or condition of being exposed: as
a
: the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather
the hiker died of exposure after becoming lost in the snowstorm
b
: the condition of being subject to some detrimental effect or harmful condition
repeated exposure to bronchial irritants
risk exposure to the flu
benign skin discolorations caused by sun exposureKatie Tyndall
2
: the act or an instance of exposing see indecent exposure

Legal Definition

exposure

noun
ex·​po·​sure
1
: the fact or condition of being exposed
also : the possibility of loss caused by an outside source
used in insurance
2
: the act or an instance of exposing
3
a
: something that exposes someone or something
b
: something (as a condition, situation, or action) that creates a risk of financial loss especially for which one may be insured
two forms of insurance are needed to cover the exposure fullyR. I. Mehr
also : the extent to which one is at risk

More from Merriam-Webster on exposure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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