# exponent

/ˈɛkˌspoʊnənt/ (US) · /ɛkspˈəʊnənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exponent
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a number or letter that shows how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. You see this in math when you write 2^3 to mean 2 times 2 times 2.

For teachers: a number or symbol placed above and after another number to indicate the power to which the former is to be raised.

## Examples

- The exponent in 10^5 is five.
- When you multiply two numbers with the same base, you add their exponents together.
- In scientific notation, the exponent allows researchers to express extremely large or small quantities in a more manageable and standardized format.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.