exposition

[ek-spuh-zish-uhn]

noun

1. a large-scale public exhibition or show, as of art or manufactured products.

   an exposition of 19th-century paintings; an automobile exposition.

   Synonyms: presentation, display, demonstration, exhibit

2. the act of expounding, setting forth, or explaining.

   the exposition of a point of view.

3. writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or to explain; a detailed statement or explanation; explanatory treatise.

   The students prepared expositions on familiar essay topics.

   Synonyms: explication, exegesis, interpretation, critique, commentary, elucidation

4. the act of presenting to view; display.

   The singer gave a splendid exposition of vocal talent.

5. exposure.

6. the state of being uncovered, revealed, or otherwise exposed; exposure.

7. Music.,  the first section of a fugue or a sonata form, in which the principal themes normally are introduced.

8. (in a play, novel, etc.) dialogue, description, etc., that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation.

exposition

/ ˌɛkspəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a systematic, usually written statement about, commentary on, or explanation of a specific subject

2. the act of expounding or setting forth information or a viewpoint

3. a large public exhibition, esp of industrial products or arts and crafts

4. the act of exposing or the state of being exposed

5. the part of a play, novel, etc, in which the theme and main characters are introduced

6. music the first statement of the subjects or themes of a movement in sonata form or a fugue

7. RC Church the exhibiting of the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic for public veneration

Other Word Forms

• expositional adjective
• preexposition noun
• reexposition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exposition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English exposicioun, exposicyon, from Old French exposition, from Latin expositiōn- (stem of expositiō “exposure (of an infant to die); statement, description),” equivalent to exposit(us); + -iōn- ; expose, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of exposition¹

C14: from Latin expositiō a setting forth, from expōnere to display; see _exponent

Example Sentences

Whether this is a flaw is up to you, but Smith’s opening narration provides the only backdrop or exposition we ever get in “Patti Smith: Dream of Life.”

Read more on Salon

His scores, with their inherent rigor and overt religiosity, seemingly simple structure and patient exposition, conjure a world both foundational and unbound.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Did I mention there’s also the faux documentary, many a horror movie’s favorite exposition vehicle?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The dialogue is naturally digressive, sliding in just as much exposition as needed with a magician’s sleight of hand.

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This lets the viewer know that, though there is going to be exposition for a while, things will get crazy eventually.

Read more on Los Angeles Times