noun
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.
Vocabulary lists containing exclusion
Case Closed: Clud, Clus
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Promises to Keep
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Geography and World Regions
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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:
Research has found that autistic schoolchildren are subjected more to exclusion and bullying than their peers.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
That exclusion can shelter up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 for married couples filing jointly.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
This could include individually assessed exclusion zones around victim's homes or workplaces and alerts that trigger police responses when conditions are breached.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
After applying the $20 general income exclusion, countable income would be $680.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
The feelings of dismissal and exclusion were overwhelming and suffocating for me.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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Therefore, his SSI benefit would be reduced by $680, assuming no other income or exclusions apply.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
Eleven days before OpenAI’s disclosure, the Insurer media outlet published that Verisk’s Insurance Services Office confirmed it was weighing coverage exclusions for agentic AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 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
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
Mr. Grant said that "he hoped this Convention would take high grounds upon this subject and silence . . . . these inquiries into men's belief, and exclusions for opinion's sake."
From History of the Constitutions of Iowa by Benjamin F. Shambaugh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.