What does exhibit mean?
"Exhibit" serves as both a verb and a noun, centered on the idea of putting something before the public eye. As a verb, it means to display an object — a painting, a fossil, a product — so that others can see it, and it also extends to showing qualities or behaviors, as when a patient exhibits symptoms or a student exhibits talent. As a noun, an exhibit is any individual item on display in a museum, gallery, trade show, or fair. In legal settings, an exhibit is a document or object formally submitted as evidence, which is how the phrase "Exhibit A" entered everyday speech as a way of pointing to telling proof of something. Derived from the Latin exhibere, meaning "to hold out" or "to present," the word carries a formal, deliberate connotation: what is exhibited is shown intentionally, often with care or authority. It is standard vocabulary in art, law, science, and everyday description alike.
To display an object, work, or collection publicly; or to show a quality, emotion, or behavior visibly.
"The museum exhibits artifacts from ancient Egypt on the second floor."
When used of qualities or behaviors ('exhibits patience'), the verb has a slightly clinical or formal tone.
(Law) To submit a document or object as evidence during legal proceedings.
"The prosecution exhibited the signed contract to the jury."
An object or group of objects displayed to the public in a museum, gallery, fair, or similar setting.
"The dinosaur skeleton is the museum's most popular exhibit."
(Law) A document or object formally presented as evidence in court.
"The letter was marked Exhibit B and admitted into evidence."
Standard plural; used both for multiple displayed objects and for separately labeled pieces of legal evidence.
"All forty exhibits were catalogued before the trial began."
In a courtroom, the first piece of evidence is literally called 'Exhibit A' — and that's why we say someone is 'Exhibit A' for a bad habit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exhibit
"Exhibit" comes from the Latin exhibere, formed from ex- ("out") plus habere ("to hold"), originally meaning "to hold out" or "to hand over." English adopted the word from Latin in the late Middle English period, initially carrying senses of producing or presenting documents, before developing its modern meanings of displaying objects publicly. It shares its root with related Latin-derived words such as "exhibition," "exhibitor," "inhibit," and "prohibit," all built on habere.
Related word forms
How exhibit is actually used
Formal to neutral register. In British English, 'exhibition' is strongly preferred for the public event; American English more freely uses 'exhibit' for both the event and the items displayed. The legal sense ('Exhibit A') is fixed terminology in courtroom procedure and has spread into figurative everyday use.
Easily confused with exhibit
An exhibition is the whole organized event or display, while an exhibit is an individual item shown within it (though in American usage 'exhibit' can also mean the event itself).