The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Exploitation \Ex`ploi*ta"tion\, n. [F.]
   The act of exploiting or utilizing. --J. D. Whitney.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

exploitation
    n 1: the act of making some area of land or water more
         profitable or productive or useful; "the development of
         Alaskan resources"; "the exploitation of copper deposits"
         [syn: exploitation, development]
    2: an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them
       unfairly); "capitalistic exploitation of the working class";
       "paying Blacks less and charging them more is a form of
       victimization" [syn: exploitation, victimization,
       victimisation, using]