exhibition

American  

[ek-suh-bish-uhn] / ˌɛk səˈbɪʃ ən /

noun

• exhibitions
  plural

1. an exhibiting, showing, or presenting to view.

2. a public display, as of the work of artists or artisans, the products of farms or factories, the skills of performers, or objects of general interest.

3. an exposition or large fair of extended duration, as a world's fair.

4. British. an allowance given to a student in a college, university, or school, usually upon the result of a competitive examination.

5. Medicine/Medical Obsolete. administration, as of a remedy.

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exhibition British  

/ ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃən /

noun

1. a public display of art, products, skills, activities, etc

   a judo exhibition

2. the act of exhibiting or the state of being exhibited

3. to behave so foolishly in public that one excites notice or ridicule

4. an allowance or scholarship awarded to a student at a university or school

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exhibition Idioms  

1. see make an exhibition of oneself.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonexhibition
  noun
• preexhibition
  noun
• reexhibition
  noun
• self-exhibition
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• exhibitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of exhibition

1275–1325; Middle English exhibicion < Late Latin exhibitiōn- (stem of exhibitiō ) a presenting. See exhibit, -ion

Explanation

An exhibition is a collection of items for public display, like an exhibition of children’s artwork, antique vases, or memorabilia from a science fiction movie series. In the 19th century, exhibition was used to refer to a collection of objects, while exhibit designated a single item in an exhibition. Nowadays, exhibition and exhibit are often used interchangeably. Exhibition comes from the Latin ex-, meaning "out," and habere, meaning "hold" — as objects in an exhibition are "held out," or shown, to the public. The h in "hold out" might help you remember to include the h when spelling exhibition.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exhibition exhibitions

“It’s pretty typical of the 1939 exhibition on Treasure Island. Ralph Stackpole had a studio and home down the street and he brought in painter Diego Rivera and they created these styles of sculptures.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The research arrives as the British Museum prepares to open a major exhibition featuring the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the best-known surviving artifacts connected with the Norman Conquest.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

The museum said full details about the exhibition would be revealed at a later date.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Companies are less willing to finance independent projects, buyers are spending less and the exhibition market is harder to navigate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

I hope she tells me how much she loved my exhibition.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

The videos were taken at defensive weapon exhibitions all across the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Cuba's Communist Party has used the 100 years since late president Fidel Castro's birth to rally the party faithful and the armed forces through a week-long series of exhibitions, concerts and conferences.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Sold-out exhibitions of the Sanxingdui treasures have crisscrossed the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

More than 58 million people worldwide have viewed his exhibitions, the statement said.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Fittingly, in June a switch is thrown, and electric light illuminates the exhibitions for the first time.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman