inclusion

American  

[in-kloo-zhuhn] / ɪnˈklu ʒən /

noun

1. the act of including.

2. the state of being included.

3. something that is included.

4. the practice or policy of including and integrating all people and groups in activities, organizations, political processes, etc., especially those who are disadvantaged, have suffered discrimination, or are living with disabilities: Our company is committed to addressing issues of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

   Political and civic inclusion is vital to a sustainable democracy.

   Our company is committed to addressing issues of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

5. the educational policy of placing students with physical or mental disabilities in regular classrooms and providing them with certain accommodations.

6. Biology. a body suspended in the cytoplasm, as a granule.

7. Mineralogy. a solid body or a body of gas or liquid enclosed within the mass of a mineral.

8. Petrography. xenolith.

9. Logic, Mathematics. the relationship between two sets when the second is a subset of the first.

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inclusion British  

/ ɪnˈkluːʒən /

noun

1. the act of including or the state of being included

2. something included

3. geology a solid fragment, liquid globule, or pocket of gas enclosed in a mineral or rock

4. maths

   1.  X⊆Y.  the relation between two sets that obtains when all the members of the first are members of the second

   2.  X⊂Y.  the relation that obtains between two sets when the first includes the second but not vice versa

5. engineering a foreign particle in a metal, such as a particle of metal oxide

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Other Word Forms

• noninclusion
  noun
• preinclusion
  noun
• reinclusion
  noun

Etymology

Origin of inclusion

First recorded in 1590–1600; inclusion def. 9 was first recorded in 1945–50; from Latin inclūsiōn- (stem of inclūsiō ) “a shutting in,” equivalent to inclūs(us) ( see incluse) + -iōn- noun suffix ( see -ion)

Explanation

Inclusion is the act of including someone in something, like a school, club, or team. If you are familiar with the word include — meaning to make someone or something a part of something larger — then inclusion should make sense. You might be happy at your inclusion on the school's volleyball team. The inclusion of an actor in a movie is exciting. When there's a new President, people wait and see who will earn inclusion in the cabinet. In biology, an inclusion body is a very small body found within another on the cellular level.

Example Sentences

A study earlier this year by the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that only nine of the 100 biggest US movies last year were directed by women.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

"We are investing in ending people's lives" rather than in offering them a better quality of life, said Krista Orr, president of disability advocacy group Inclusion Canada,

From BBC • May 15, 2026

The Make Great Plays staff created five awards, one of each going to students in every grade: Inclusion Hero, Unity Champion, Global Ambassador, Hope Maker and Pathfinder.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Inclusion in the World Government Bond Index from April of this year should also attract passive inflows.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

“Dad’s been asked to cater the show, and they want me to ask a question during something called the Audience Inclusion Segment.”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Related Words

• admittance
• formation
• incorporation
• involvement