preclude
Americanverb
-
to exclude or debar
-
to make impossible, esp beforehand
Other Word Forms
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:
Explanation
To preclude something is to prevent it from happening. A muzzle precludes a dog from biting. This is a very formal word, but it has a simple meaning: when something is precluded, it can't happen. See the prefix pre in preclude and in prevent? It is signaling that these words are all about things done before another action would happen — to make it impossible. Staying away from water precludes the possibility of drowning, though it also precludes any chance of having fun swimming.
Vocabulary lists containing preclude
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Power Prefix: pre-
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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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.
Even if a bubble already has burst, “that doesn’t preclude a big correction in the index if corporate earnings falter,” Higgins wrote.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
Along with all the other abuses uncovered during the Watergate era, new rules governing the FBI were put in place to preclude such abuses from happening again.
From Salon • Mar. 12, 2026
Experts noted that the agreement does not preclude companies from using fossil fuels to meet growing energy demand.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026
"This outcome should make plain that time does not preclude a successful prosecution; we will doggedly pursue justice for the victims of non-recent crimes, no matter how many decades have passed."
From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026
High reliefs largely preclude this kind of pictorialism.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
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.
