noun [U]
1 (disapproving) a situation in which sb treats sb else in an unfair way, especially in order to make money from their work:
the exploitation of children * Starvation and poverty are the result of global economic exploitation, not lack of resources.
2 the use of land, oil, minerals, etc:
commercial exploitation of the mineral resources in Antarctica
3 (disapproving) the fact of using a situation in order to get an advantage for yourself:
exploitation of the situation for his own purposes
