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Synonyms

exclusion

American  
[ik-skloo-zhuhn] / ɪkˈsklu ʒən /

noun

  • exclusions
    plural
  1. an act or instance of excluding.

  2. the state of being excluded.

  3. Physiology. a keeping apart; blocking of an entrance.


exclusion British  
/ ɪkˈskluːʒən /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of excluding or the state of being excluded

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of exclusion

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin exclūsiōn- (stem of exclūsiō ), equivalent to exclūs(us) (past participle of exclūdere “to shut out”; see exclude) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

An exclusion is an instance of leaving something or someone out. If you love someone to the exclusion of all others, he or she is the only one for you! Exclusion is closely related to some words that have a positive or negative feel. The word exclusive implies something is high-end, desirable, and not for ordinary people. If someone is excluded, on the other hand, it means that someone has been deliberately and painfully left out. Exclusion is more neutral. The department store that advertises a big sale often states at the bottom of the ad that "some exclusions apply," meaning the discounts don't apply to all items.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing exclusion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

After applying the $20 general income exclusion, countable income would be $680.

From MarketWatch Aug. 6, 2026

"This policy is not exclusion, it is structured inclusion," said Payne Farai Kupfuwa, founder of the Young Miners Foundation, welcoming the move.

From Barron's Jul. 26, 2026

But false reports about exhausted runners after the first women’s 800-meter race helped justify the exclusion of this women’s race until 1960.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 20, 2026

PEN’s article is important and revealing, bringing together substantial evidence of the exclusion of Jewish and Israeli writers from publishing.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 14, 2026

My exclusion is tangible, as if concrete walls have formed around me.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Therefore, his SSI benefit would be reduced by $680, assuming no other income or exclusions apply.

From MarketWatch Aug. 6, 2026

The introduction of inclusion policies has meant permanent exclusions from school are now very rare, with none at all recorded in 2024/25.

From BBC Jul. 13, 2026

The tax break could be applied to proceeds collected by both the founder and trust, resulting in two $15 million exclusions at exit.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 29, 2026

They allege that the final regulations for the law, drafted and approved by the state’s waste agency, include exclusions for large categories of plastic packaging that companies could use indefinitely.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 23, 2026

Total exclusions," concluded the President, "call for prompt corrections.

From Thomas Jefferson The Apostle of Americanism by Gilbert Chinard

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