Home › Technology › Ethics in Science & Tech › exploitation

exploitation

eks-ploy-TAY-shun /ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən/

nounC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formalgeneral

The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work or resources.

Implies taking advantage of another's vulnerability or lack of power for selfish gain; can also refer to using resources effectively.

The story behind the word. The word 'exploitation' comes from the French 'exploiter,' meaning 'to make use of, to develop,' which itself derives from Latin 'explicare' (to unfold, explain). Initially, it had a neutral sense of developing resources or making good use of something. However, by the 19th century, particularly with the rise of industrialization and social critiques, it gained its negative connotation of selfishly and unfairly taking advantage of others or their labor.

Word relationships

abuse: The improper use of something; mistreatment.
manipulation: Controlling or influencing a person or situation cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.
oppression: Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.

protection: The action of protecting someone or something, or the state of being protected.
empowerment: Authority or power given to someone to do something; the process of becoming stronger and more confident.

Word family

exploit (verb): to make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource); to use (a person or situation) in an unfair or selfish way.
exploitative (adjective): making use of a situation or treating others unfairly in order to benefit from their efforts or resources.

Collocations

worker exploitation
child exploitation
sexual exploitation
resource exploitation
prevent exploitation

Example sentences

"The factory was accused of worker exploitation, paying extremely low wages for long hours." In labor ethics.
"Uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources can lead to irreversible environmental damage." Regarding natural resources.
"Critics argue that some tech companies engage in the exploitation of user data for profit without adequate compensation." In the digital economy.

Memory hook

Think of 'EXPLOITATION' as 'EX-PLOITING' someone's weakness for your own gain. Unfair use.

When not to use

While 'exploitation' can sometimes mean 'making good use of resources,' in an ethical context, it almost exclusively carries the negative connotation of unfair treatment. Use 'utilization' or 'leveraging' for the neutral sense.

Fun facts

The term 'exploitation' is central to Marxist theory, referring to the appropriation of surplus value from labor by capitalists.