Pronunciation: (ik-spō'nunt or, esp. for 3, ek'spō-nunt), Strict Standards: Non-static method FenSites::linkTo() should not be called statically in /site/html/dictionary/exponent.html on line 77 [key]
1. a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets: an exponent of modern theory in the arts.
2. a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something: Lincoln is an exponent of American democracy.
3. Math.a symbol or number placed above and after another symbol or number to denote the power to which the latter is to be raised: The exponents of the quantities xn, 2m, y4, and 35 are, respectively, n, m, 4, and 5.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.