different between exposition vs exhibition

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ksp??z???n/

Etymology 1

From Middle English exposicioun, from Old French esposicion, from Latin expositio, from exponere (“to put forth”).

Noun

exposition (countable and uncountable, plural expositions)

1. The action of exposing something to something, such as skin to the sunlight.
2. (authorship) The act or process of declaring or describing something through either speech or writing; the portions and aspects of a piece of writing that exist mainly to describe the setting, characters and other non-plot elements.

3. (obsolete) The act of expulsion, or being expelled, from a place.
4. An event at which goods, artwork and cultural displays are exhibited for the public to view.

5. (authorship) An essay or speech in which any topic is discussed in detail.

6. (authorship) An opening section in fiction, in which background information about the characters, events or setting is conveyed.
8. (music) The opening section of a movement in sonata form; the opening section of a fugue.
9. The abandonment of an unwanted child.

Etymology 2

From French exposition (“exhibition”)

Noun

exposition (countable and uncountable, plural expositions)

1. The action of putting something out to public view; for example in a display or show.

Derived terms

• expositional
• expositionary

Related terms

• exhibition

Translations

See also

• explanation
• exegesis

French

Etymology

From Old French esposicion, borrowed from Latin expositio, expositionem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k.spo.zi.sj??/

Noun

exposition f (plural expositions)

1. exposition
2. exhibition
3. exposure

Further reading

• “exposition” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Old French exhibicion.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ks??b???n/
• Rhymes: -???n

Noun

exhibition (countable and uncountable, plural exhibitions)

1. An instance of exhibiting, or something exhibited.
2. A large-scale public showing of objects or products.

   There was an art exhibition on in the town hall.

   a boat exhibition

3. A public display, intentional or otherwise, generally characterised as negative, a shamfeul exhibition or a disgusting exhibition
4. (Britain) A financial award or prize given to a student (who becomes an exhibitioner) by a school or university, usually on the basis of academic merit.
   • 1978, Lawrence Durrell, Livia, Faber & Faber 1992 (Avignon Quintet), p. 352:

     He was a scholarship boy who had won an Exhibition to Oxford, and then, like so many others, had found himself thrown upon the slave market of pedagogy.

   • 2016, Jonathan Meades, ‘Inside Job’, Literary Review, November:

     Despite a couple of rustications, he gained an exhibition to Cambridge.

5. (sports) A game which does not impact the standings for any major cup or competition.

Derived terms

• exhibitionism
• exhibitionist
• make an exhibition of oneself
• Exhibition Road

Related terms

• exposition

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin exhibiti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.zi.bi.sj??/

Noun

exhibition f (plural exhibitions)

1. (sports) exhibition, friendly
2. (document) presentation, production
3. showing off, outrageous behaviour

Derived terms

• match d'exhibition
• exhibitionnisme
• exhibitionniste

Further reading

• “exhibition” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).