exposition

noun

ex·​po·​si·​tion ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən 

1

: a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing)

2

a

: discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand

b(1)

: the first part of a musical composition in sonata form in which the thematic material of the movement is presented

(2)

: the opening section of a fugue

3

: a public exhibition or show

expositional

ˌek-spə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• display
• exhibit
• exhibition
• expo
• fair
• show

Examples of exposition in a Sentence

This is not an easy book, and the reader may find the layers of detail challenging. There are long expositions of the knotty tangles of monarchical lineage, and the necessary chronicle of historical events occasionally consumes the novel's narrative drive. —Lucy Lethbridge, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009

He is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly. —Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000

Although they were invited to use an early X ray machine on display at the exposition, they turned down the offer, and they never found the bullet. —T. Burton Smith, American Heritage, September 1992

The subject requires some exposition.

a clear exposition of his ideas

Recent Examples on the Web

No sooner has this block of exposition concluded than a cyberattack cripples every system in the U.S.A., including all the ones that had been thought invulnerable. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025

But Côté, an influential French-Canadian fixture of the art-festival circuit, buries the lede slightly in his exposition. —David Katz, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2025

Among others, there’s Tony Award-winning director David Cromer as a somewhat cryptic bedside-manner coach, and Charin Alvarez who, in a three-minute scene as James’ wary longtime colleague, conducts a mini-masterclass in humanizing exposition with quiet gravity. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

Chief’s motor-mouthed monologue of Flippy’s backstory is hysterically funny, pulling double duty by pointing out how to properly use exposition for comedic purposes while also demonstrating backstories are inherently superfluous and absurd. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see exposit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exposition

noun

ex·​po·​si·​tion ˌek-spə-ˈzish-ən 

1

: an explanation of something

2

: a piece of writing that explains

3

: the first part of a piece of music in which the theme is presented

4

: a public exhibition

expositor

ik-ˈspäz-ət-ər

noun

expository

ik-ˈspäz-ə-ˌtōr-ē

-ˌtȯr-

adjective