exhibitors

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralbusiness

   Companies or people who set up a display of their products or services at a fair, show or convention.

   Grammar: Plural of exhibitor: the exhibitors set up their stands.

   Patterns

   • exhibitors at something
   • exhibitors from somewhere

   More than two hundred exhibitors filled the convention hall for the trade fair.

   Exhibitors must set up their stands before the doors open on Friday.

   Several exhibitors at the book fair offered discounts on the last day.

2. 2nounplural

   Artists, collectors or organizations who show their work or objects to the public in a gallery or museum.

   Grammar: Often used for contributors to a show: the exhibitors at the art fair.

   Patterns

   • exhibitors at something

   The gallery invited local painters to take part as exhibitors.

   Exhibitors at the flower show compete for prizes in many categories.

3. 3nounpluralspecialist

   Businesses that own or run cinemas and show films to the public.

   Grammar: Used in the film industry, usually alongside distributors and producers.

   Patterns

   • film exhibitors
   • cinema exhibitors

   Film exhibitors worried that streaming would keep audiences at home.

   Distributors negotiate with exhibitors over how long a film stays on screen.

Word forms

Common combinations

trade show exhibitors

Trade show exhibitors pay for floor space and electricity.

register as exhibitors

Small businesses can register as exhibitors online.

film exhibitors

Film exhibitors depend on a steady supply of new releases.

exhibitors and visitors

The fair welcomed exhibitors and visitors from forty countries.

attract exhibitors

The city hopes the new center will attract exhibitors from abroad.

Synonyms and how they differ

vendors

Vendors mainly sell goods at an event, while exhibitors may only display and promote what they offer.

displayers

Displayers is rare and sounds unnatural, so exhibitors is the standard word.

stallholders

Stallholders run small market stalls, whereas exhibitors take part in larger organized shows.

participants

Participants takes in everyone who takes part, including visitors, while exhibitors specifically show products or work.

Opposites

Word family

exhibitor noun

one person or company that shows something

exhibit verb

to show something publicly

exhibit noun

an item or collection on display

exhibition noun

a public display of things

Commonly confused: exhibitors or exhibitionists?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “exhibitors”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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