a HackerNoon project
Original · left

Exploit (feat)

A bold or daring feat.

First in use: the 1300s
Duplicate · right

Exploit (security)

Code or a technique that takes advantage of a software vulnerability.

First in use: the 1990s

Exploit / Exploit (feat) / Exploit (security)

Loading data…
Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
Last crossover—
Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Heroic deeds vs. zero-days.

Which meaning of Exploit is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Exploit (feat) came first (the 1300s). Exploit (security) arrived in the 1990s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Exploit (feat)Exploit (security)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1300s

Exploit (feat)

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—
Duplicate · the 1990s

Exploit (security)

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—

More duplicated terms

Cybersecurity