exposé

[ ek-spoh-zey ]

/ ˌɛk spoʊˈzeɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exposé ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a public exposure or revelation, as of something discreditable: Certain cheap magazines make a fortune out of sensational exposés.

Nearby words

Origin of exposé

1795–1805; < French, noun use of past participle of exposer to expose

Can be confusedexpose exposé

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for exposé

exposé

/ (ɛksˈpəʊzeɪ) /

noun

the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc, to public notice

an article, book, or statement that discloses a scandal, crime, etc

expose

/ (ɪkˈspəʊz) /

verb (tr)

to display for viewing; exhibit

to bring to public notice; disclose; revealto expose the facts

to divulge the identity of; unmask

(foll by to) to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc)

to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die

(foll by to) to introduce (to) or acquaint (with)he was exposed to the classics at an early age

photog to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation

RC Church to exhibit (the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic) for public veneration

expose oneself to display one's sexual organs in public

Derived Formsexposable, adjectiveexposal, nounexposer, noun

Word Origin for expose

C15: from Old French exposer, from Latin expōnere to set out; see exponent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for exposé

expose

early 15c., "to leave without shelter or defense," from Middle French exposer "lay open, set forth" (13c.), from Latin exponere "set forth" (see expound), altered by confusion with poser "to place, lay down" (see pose (v.1)). Meaning "to exhibit openly" is from 1620s; that of "to unmask" is from 1690s. Photographic sense is from 1839. Related: Exposed; exposes; exposing.

expose

also exposé, "display of discreditable information," 1803, initially as a French word; past participle of French exposer (see expose (v.)). Earliest use was in reference to Napoleon.