Overexploitation


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

noun
1.
use or utilization, especially for profit:
the exploitation of newly discovered oil fields.
2.
selfish utilization:
He got ahead through the exploitation of his friends.
3.
the combined, often varied, use of public-relations and advertising techniques to promote a person, movie, product, etc.
n.

1803, “productive working” of something, a positive word among those who used it first, though regarded as a Gallicism, from French exploitation, noun of action from exploiter (see exploit (v.)). Bad sense developed 1830s-50s, in part from influence of French socialist writings (especially Saint Simon), also perhaps influenced by U.S. anti-slavery writing; and the insulting word was hurled at activities it once had crowned as praise.

It follows from this science [conceived by Saint Simon] that the tendency of the human race is from a state of antagonism to that of an universal peaceful association — from the dominating influence of the military spirit to that of the industriel one; from what they call l’exploitation de l’homme par l’homme to the exploitation of the globe by industry. [“Quarterly Review,” April & July 1831]

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