CultureJuly 17, 2026

exponent

/ɪkˈspoʊnənt/

Definition

A person who supports, promotes, or acts as a leading example of a particular belief, theory, or lifestyle.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'exponere,' meaning to set forth or explain. It originally appeared in English to describe someone who explains or interprets a text, before expanding to mean an advocate for a specific cause.

In the news

In this article, Andy Burnham is described as an exponent of 'Manchesterism' because he actively promotes and embodies the philosophy that culture is central to government and civic life. He is not just a follower of this idea, but a key figure driving its adoption in national politics.

How Manchester created Manchesterism: from music and culture to political power

Read the full article ↗

The Conversation

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.