exploiters
|ex-ploit-ers|
🇺🇸
/ɪkˈsplɔɪtərz/
🇬🇧
/ɪkˈsplɔɪtəz/
(exploiter)
take advantage of
Etymology
'exploiter' originates from French, specifically the word 'exploiter', where the prefix 'ex-' meant 'out' and the root 'ploit' (from Old French 'esploit') related to 'use' or 'deed'.
'exploiter' changed from Old French 'esploiter'/'esploit' (meaning 'a deed' or 'to make use of') and later entered Middle English as 'exploit' and modern English as 'exploiter'.
Initially it referred to carrying out a deed or making use of something (neutral), but over time one common meaning evolved into 'taking unfair advantage of others', which is the dominant negative sense today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or group that takes unfair advantage of others for personal gain; someone who exploits people (usually negative).
Exploiters took advantage of the refugees' lack of documents and charged them outrageous fees.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/30 18:14