Exposition
noun /ˌɛkspəˈzɪʃən/ — The background information that establishes the world of a story.
Definition
The explanatory material in a narrative that provides necessary context — character backstory, setting, world rules, prior events — without which the reader cannot understand what happens next.
Beyond the definition
All writers struggle with exposition — how to tell the reader what they need to know without boring them with what they already suspect. The best exposition is invisible, sewn into the action so naturally that you absorb the world without noticing the instruction.
Origin & history
Latin 'expositio' — a setting out, explaining, from 'exponere' (to set out), from 'ex-' (out) + 'ponere' (to place). To expose the essential details.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her first three pages were pure exposition — you understood the world before anything happened.
The film opens with classic exposition: place, time, character, situation.
Skilled writers hide exposition in dialogue; clumsy ones state it in paragraphs.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Exposition” when the meaning fits your context: The explanatory material in a narrative that provides necessary context — character backstory, setting, world rules, prior events — without which the reader cannot understand what happens next.
Synonyms
background, context, setup, backstory
Antonyms
in medias res, withholding
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Exposition" mean?
Exposition is noun meaning: The background information that establishes the world of a story.. The explanatory material in a narrative that provides necessary context — character backstory, setting, world rules, prior events — without which the reader cannot understand what happens next.
Where does the word "Exposition" come from?
Latin 'expositio' — a setting out, explaining, from 'exponere' (to set out), from 'ex-' (out) + 'ponere' (to place). To expose the essential details.