exploitation

[ ek-sploi-tey-shuh n ]
/ ˌɛk splɔɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

use or utilization, especially for profit: the exploitation of newly discovered oil fields.
selfish utilization: He got ahead through the exploitation of his friends.
the combined, often varied, use of public-relations and advertising techniques to promote a person, movie, product, etc.

Origin of exploitation

From French, dating back to 1795–1805; see origin at exploit2, -ation

OTHER WORDS FROM exploitation

ex·ploi·ta·tion·al, adjective ex·ploi·ta·tion·al·ly, adverb non·ex·ploi·ta·tion, noun o·ver·ex·ploi·ta·tion, noun