Origin: Latin suffix -al
Exponential has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
a function in which an independent variable appears as an exponent
"When modeling population growth, we often use an exponential function where time is raised to the power of itself in the equation."
Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable.
"The graph of y = 2^x illustrates exponential growth because the variable x serves as the exponent in the function."
Relating to an exponent.
"The population of bacteria increased exponentially as each generation produced more offspring than the last."