exposure

/ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/

//ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"exposure" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“exposure” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,361 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,361
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The condition of being exposed, uncovered, or unprotected.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

exposure vs exposé
63% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for exposure
PropertyValue
Headwordexposure
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/
Letters8
Frequency rank#3,361
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “exposure” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). exposure lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for exposure is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,361 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for exposure, with forms such as "epxosure", "exopsure", and "exposrue". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "exposé", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From expose + -ure. The correct English form is exposure, spelled E-X-P-O-S-U-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The condition of being exposed, uncovered, or unprotected.
  2. 2
    Lack of protection from weather or the elements.
  3. 3
    The act of exposing something, such as a scandal.
  4. 4
    The degree to which an individual, their content, or their brand is seen by the target market or the general public; internet fame.
  5. 5
    The act or condition of being at risk of financial losses.
  6. 6
    That part which is facing or exposed to something, e.g. the sun, weather, sky, or a view.
  7. 7
    An instance of taking a photograph.
  8. 8
    The piece of film exposed to light.
  9. 9
    Details of the time and f-number used.
  10. 10
    The amount of sun, wind etc. experienced by a particular site.

Etymology

From expose + -ure.

This word in other languages

exposición(Español)exposition(Français)Kontakt(Deutsch)exposição(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: epxosure,exopsure,exposrue,expossure,exposuer,exposurre,expousre,expposure,expsoure,exxposure,xeposure

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of exposure - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

epxosure2exopsure2exposrue2expossure1exposuer2exposurre1expousre2expposure1
Edit distance from "exposure"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "exposure"?
"exposure" is spelled E-X-P-O-S-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/.
What does "exposure" mean?
As a noun, "exposure" means: The condition of being exposed, uncovered, or unprotected.
What words are commonly confused with "exposure"?
"exposure" is commonly confused with "exposé". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "exposure"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "exposure" is /ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "exposure"?
From expose + -ure. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “exposure”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-P-O-S-U-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “exposé” - see the side-by-side comparison. exposure vs exposé
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list