exponent

American  

[ik-spoh-nuhnt, ek-spoh-nuhnt] / ɪkˈspoʊ nənt, ˈɛk spoʊ nənt /

noun

1. a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets.

   an exponent of modern theory in the arts.

   Synonyms:

   promoter, proponent, champion, supporter

2. a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something.

   Lincoln is an exponent of American democracy.

   Synonyms:

   personification, embodiment

3. Mathematics. a symbol or number placed above and after another symbol or number to denote the power to which the latter is to be raised.

   The exponents of the quantities xn, 2m, y4, and 35 are, respectively, n, m, 4, and 5.

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exponent British  

/ ɪkˈspəʊnənt /

noun

1. (usually foll by of) a person or thing that acts as an advocate (of an idea, cause, etc)

2. a person or thing that explains or interprets

3. a performer or interpretive artist, esp a musician

4. Also called: power.   index.  maths a number or variable placed as a superscript to the right of another number or quantity indicating the number of times the number or quantity is to be multiplied by itself

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adjective

1. offering a declaration, explanation, or interpretation

exponent Scientific  

/ ĕk′spō′nənt,ĭk-spō′nənt /

1. A number or symbol, placed above and to the right of the expression to which it applies, that indicates the number of times the expression is used as a factor. For example, the exponent 3 in 5 ³ indicates 5 × 5 × 5; the exponent x in (a + b) ^x indicates (a + b) multiplied by itself x times.

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Etymology

Origin of exponent

1575–85; < Latin expōnent- (stem of expōnēns ), present participle of expōnere to expound; -ent

Example Sentences

It is clear that exceptional levels of golfing magic continue to course through the veins of the game's supreme exponent.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024

Its message was spread across the world in the 1970s by Marley — the faith’s most famous exponent.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

Despite the system's complexity, the team found that snowflake accelerations follow an exponential frequency distribution with an exponent of three halves.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023

Abby Abildness has been the leading exponent of NAR's vision for Pennsylvania.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2023

The craze for �stheticism against which it was directed must have placed a strain on the patience of so brilliant an exponent of British commonsense as Sir William Gilbert.

From The Secrets of a Savoyard by Lytton, Henry A.

Related Words

• interpreter
• proponent