Synonyms

preclude

American

[pri-klood] / prɪˈklud /

verb (used with object)

precluded, precluding

to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible.

The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction.

Synonyms:

eliminate, forestall
to exclude or debar from something.

His contract precludes a raise for him.

preclude British

/ prɪˈkluːd, prɪˈkluːʒən, prɪˈkluːsɪv /

verb

to exclude or debar
to make impossible, esp beforehand

"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

precludable adjective
preclusion noun
preclusive adjective
preclusively adverb
unprecludable adjective
unpreclusive adjective
unpreclusively adverb

Etymology

Origin of preclude

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

Compare meaning

How does preclude compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

preclude vs. exclude

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.

David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, said that the federal prosecution of a man accused of starting the earlier blaze does not preclude the department from discussing its actions surrounding both fires.

From Los Angeles Times

Under the provisions of the 1998 Northern Ireland Act, regulations governing the flag had become "a transferred prerogative matter", precluding Her Majesty's "command on flags … having any legal effect in Northern Ireland".

From BBC

The secrecy precluded a medal of honor without a waiver from Congress.

From The Wall Street Journal

I could have claimed Austrian retirement on my 65th birthday in 2023, but concerns about the Windfall Elimination Provision interfering with my Social Security benefits precluded this.

From MarketWatch

Nuzzi intends these as part of a larger mosaic, and while they are occasionally intriguing, they exist as fragments, precluding any possibility of narrative momentum.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023