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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since Giddens played at Kansas State for his entire college career, he wasn’t given as much media exposure. Steve Bradshaw, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025 The doctor added that recovery would best continue away from the hospital, where exposure to viruses risks weakening the Holy Father's condition. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025 Relying on these sources is particularly problematic in social networks that are homogeneous, as exposure to information from someone in your own party can lead people to have more extreme positions. Betsy Sinclair, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025 This encounter likely served as his exposure to B. suis. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exposure

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exposure was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exposure. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

exposure

noun
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
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 exposure Katie 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 fully R. 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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