शोषण (shoshan)

noun A single-sense formal/political noun meaning 'exploitation' -- the unfair use of someone's labor, resources, or vulnerability for one's own benefit.
Sense 1 : exploitation
noun, masculine
Synonyms: उत्पीड़न (utpiidan, oppression, broader), दोहन (dohan, 'milking'/draining of resources, often used for natural resources or capital rather than people)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a heavyweight word from the vocabulary of labor rights, feminism, and Marxist-influenced political discourse in India -- you will hear it in union speeches, news debates, and college politics (मज़दूरों का शोषण mazdooron kaa shoshan, 'exploitation of workers'). It carries real moral weight, so it is not used casually for small annoyances the way English speakers sometimes stretch 'exploit.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse शोषण (shoshan) with सोषण -- note the श़ (sh) not स (s); a common misspelling. 2) It is almost always used about systemic or repeated unfairness (workers, women, the poor) rather than a one-off personal wrong -- for a single unfair act, ज़्यादती (zyaadtii) or अन्याय (anyaay) fits better.
Sample Sentences:
पूंजीवाद में मज़दूरों का शोषण होता है। Under capitalism, workers are exploited.
(poonjiivaad men mazdooron kaa shoshan hotaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
फैक्ट्री मालिक ने वर्षों तक मज़दूरों का शोषण किया। The factory owner exploited the workers for years.
(phaiktrii maalik ne varshon tak mazdooron kaa shoshan kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हमें महिलाओं के शोषण के खिलाफ़ आवाज़ उठानी चाहिए। We should raise our voice against the exploitation of women.
(hamen mahilaaon ke shoshan ke khilaaf aavaaz uthaanii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इस देश में गरीबों का शोषण कब रुकेगा? When will the exploitation of the poor in this country stop?
(is desh men gariibon kaa shoshan kab rukegaa?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
अगर मज़दूर संगठित होते, तो उनका शोषण न होता। If the workers had been organized, they would not have been exploited.
(agar mazdoor sangthit hote, to unkaa shoshan n hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
यूनियन नेता ने भाषण में मालिकों पर शोषण का आरोप लगाया। The union leader accused the owners of exploitation in his speech.
(yooniyan netaa ne bhaashan men maalikon par shoshan kaa aarop lagaayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का अंधाधुंध शोषण पर्यावरण को नष्ट कर रहा है। The reckless exploitation of natural resources is destroying the environment.
(praakritik sansaadhnon kaa andhaadhundh shoshan paryaavran ko nasht kar rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सामंती व्यवस्था में किसानों का जमकर शोषण किया जाता था। Under the feudal system, farmers used to be thoroughly exploited.
(saamantii vyavasthaa men kisaanon kaa jamkar shoshan kiyaa jaataa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
शोषण के खिलाफ़ लड़ो, वरना यह कभी नहीं रुकेगा! Fight against exploitation, or it will never stop!
(shoshan ke khilaaf lado, varnaa yah kabhii nahiin rukegaa!)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): शोषण (shoshan)
(sg.m.oblique): शोषण (shoshan)
(pl.m.direct): शोषण (shoshan)
(pl.m.oblique): शोषणों (shoshnon)