exponent

noun

ex·​po·​nent ik-ˈspō-nənt  ˈek-ˌspō- 

1

: a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power

2

a

: one that expounds or interprets

b

: one that champions, practices, or exemplifies

Did you know?

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that exponent and proponent have a lot in common. While the two share visual similarities and closely related definitions, they also have a common ancestor: the Latin ponere, meaning “to put.” Exponent comes from exponere, meaning “to explain, expound, or set forth,” while proponent comes from proponere, meaning “to expose to view, bring to one’s attention, propose.” Today, proponent usually refers to someone who argues in favor of something. Exponent can also refer to someone who is an advocate, but it tends to refer especially to someone who stands out as a shining representative of something. In addition, it has kept its earlier meaning of “one who expounds,” as well as its mathematical symbol meaning.

Synonyms

• advocate
• advocator
• apostle
• backer
• booster
• champion
• expounder
• espouser
• friend
• gospeler
• gospeller
• herald
• hierophant
• high priest
• paladin
• promoter
• proponent
• protagonist
• supporter
• true believer
• tub-thumper
• white knight

Examples of exponent in a Sentence

She has become one of America's foremost exponents of the romantic style in interior design.

The exponent 3 in 10³ indicates 10 x 10 x 10.

Recent Examples on the Web

Brutalism is once again the matter of mainstream discourse with the release of The Brutalist, a three-and-a-half-hour film about an exponent of the style named Lászlo Tóth. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Jan. 2025

An exponent of decadent literature, D’Annunzio, too, raised an army, in 1919, and even tried to establish an independent state in a part of what is now Croatia. —Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

That year an honorary degree was conferred on Jacques Derrida, and when somebody described him as the exponent of deconstruction theory, Brown relates, Prince Philip was overheard muttering that his own family seemed to be deconstructing pretty well. —Geoffrey Wheatcroft, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Djokovic, who has mastered the art of winning the first four rounds of a major with as little trouble as possible over his career, is the greatest exponent of Grand Slam pacing the sport has ever seen. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin exponent-, exponens, present participle of exponere — more at expose

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for exponent

• component
• deponent
• opponent
• proponent
• multicomponent
• ponent

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Kids Definition

exponent

noun

ex·​po·​nent ik-ˈspō-nənt  ˈek-ˌspō- 

1

: a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to mean raising that expression to the power of the symbol

in the expression a³, the exponent 3 indicates that a is to be raised to the third power

2

: a person who supports or favors a cause