preclude

[ pri-klood ]
See synonyms for: precludeprecludedprecluding on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),pre·clud·ed, pre·clud·ing.
  1. to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible: The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction.

  2. to exclude or debar from something: His contract precludes a raise for him.

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Origin of preclude

1
First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin praeclūdere “to shut off, close,” equivalent to prae- pre- + -clūdere, combining form of claudere “to shut, close

Other words for preclude

Other words from preclude

  • pre·clud·a·ble, adjective
  • pre·clu·sion [pri-kloo-zhuhn], /prɪˈklu ʒən/, noun
  • pre·clu·sive [pri-kloo-siv], /prɪˈklu sɪv/, adjective
  • pre·clu·sive·ly, adverb
  • un·pre·clud·a·ble, adjective
  • un·pre·clu·sive, adjective
  • un·pre·clu·sive·ly, adverb

Words Nearby preclude

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use preclude in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preclude

preclude

/ (prɪˈkluːd) /


verb(tr)
  1. to exclude or debar

  2. to make impossible, esp beforehand

Origin of preclude

1
C17: from Latin praeclūdere to shut up, from prae in front, before + claudere to close

Derived forms of preclude

  • precludable, adjective
  • preclusion (prɪˈkluːʒən), noun
  • preclusive (prɪˈkluːsɪv), adjective
  • preclusively, adverb

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