exclusive

[ ik-skloo-siv, -ziv ]

adjective

1. not admitting of something else; incompatible:

   mutually exclusive plans of action.

2. omitting from consideration or account (often followed by of ):

   a profit of ten percent, exclusive of taxes.

   Antonyms: inclusive

3. limited to the object or objects designated:

   exclusive attention to business.

4. shutting out all others from a part or share:

   an exclusive right to film the novel.

5. fashionable; stylish:

   to patronize only the most exclusive clothing designers.

6. charging comparatively high prices; expensive:

   exclusive shops.

7. noting that in which no others have a share:

   exclusive information.

8. single or sole:

   the exclusive means of communication between two places.

9. disposed to resist the admission of outsiders to association, intimacy, etc.:

   an exclusive circle of intimate friends.

   Synonyms: illiberal, cliquish, restrictive, snobbish, clannish, narrow, select

10. admitting only members of a socially restricted or very carefully selected group:

    an exclusive club.

11. excluding or tending to exclude or prohibit, as from use or possession:

    exclusive laws;

    exclusive restrictions on use of the property.

12. Grammar. (of the first person plural) not including the person or persons spoken to, as we in We'll see you later. Compare inclusive ( def 7 ).

noun

1. Journalism. a piece of news, or the reporting of a piece of news, obtained by a newspaper or other news organization, along with the privilege of using it first.
2. an exclusive right or privilege:

   to have an exclusive on providing fuel oil to the area.

exclusive

/ ˌɛkskluːˈsɪvɪtɪ; ɪkˈskluːsɪv /

adjective

1. excluding all else; rejecting other considerations, possibilities, events, etc

   an exclusive preoccupation with money

2. belonging to a particular individual or group and to no other; not shared

   an exclusive story

   exclusive rights

3. belonging to or catering for a privileged minority, esp a fashionable clique

   an exclusive restaurant

4. postpositivefoll byto limited (to); found only (in)

   this model is exclusive to Harrods

5. single; unique; only

   the exclusive means of transport on the island was the bicycle

6. separate and incompatible

   mutually exclusive principles

7. immediately postpositive not including the numbers, dates, letters, etc, mentioned

   1980–84 exclusive

8. postpositivefoll byof except (for); not taking account (of)

   exclusive of bonus payments, you will earn this amount

9. commerce (of a contract, agreement, etc) binding the parties to do business only with each other with respect to a class of goods or services
10. See inclusive
    logic (of a disjunction) true if only one rather than both of its component propositions is true Compare inclusive

noun

1. an exclusive story; a story reported in only one newspaper

Derived Forms

• exclusivity, noun
• exˈclusively, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·clu·sive·ly adverb
• ex·clu·siv·i·ty [eks-kloo-, siv, -i-tee], ex·clu·sive·ness noun
• non·ex·clu·sive adjective
• pre·ex·clu·sive adjective
• sem·i·ex·clu·sive adjective
• ul·tra·ex·clu·sive adjective
• un·ex·clu·sive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exclusive¹

First recorded in 1400–50; 1900–05 exclusive fordef 13; (adjective) late Middle English from Medieval Latin exclūsīvus; exclusion, -ive

Example Sentences

Last year, Honda became the exclusive automotive sponsor for pro esports team Team Liquid, which came third overall in the Championship.

From Digiday

They’re always either exclusive to NTWRK, created in collaboration with the company, or are first to market on the platform.

From Digiday

So join us as we bring you exclusive, multipartisan, global coverage of this wild election from now until whenever it ends.

From Ozy

The stock truly took off when the company announced its $100 million acquisition of exclusive rights to popular interview podcast the Joe Rogan Experience on May 19.

From Quartz

The six-episode docuseries of Paltrow’s wellness and “contextual commerce” empire, Goop, has been renewed, according to an exclusive report by Variety.

From Ars Technica

In the wee hours of Christmas morning, a flight deal was shared in an exclusive Facebook group for urban travelers.

From The Daily Beast

The future Mr. Vergara—and star of ‘True Blood’ and ‘Magic Mike’ shares some life advice in an exclusive video.

From The Daily Beast

Check out a clip from this exclusive interview with SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace at the 2014 Savannah Film Festival.

From The Daily Beast

But fun and insight are not always mutually exclusive, certainly not here.

From The Daily Beast

One winter night, Posho Wembore sneaked into the exclusive whites-only club of the Hotel Pourquoi Pas?

From The Daily Beast

This has a warm though a thin soil, which must be highly favorable to the Vine to induce so exclusive a devotion to it.

From Project Gutenberg

If it continues the same we can continue to sink 20 fathoms per month, exclusive of the time it will take to fix the lifts.

From Project Gutenberg

He turned into this, to where his aunt lived some distance out in the most exclusive part of its residence section.

From Project Gutenberg

If exclusive authority to issue the call is vested in the directors, it cannot be exercised by the president and secretary.

From Project Gutenberg

Altogether, we counted some seventy-odd thousand dollars, exclusive of the gold-dust in the sacks.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absolute
• chic
• exclusionary
• fashionable
• licensed
• limited
• posh
• private
• privileged
• restrictive
• ritzy
• segregated
• sole
• swank
• unique

More About Exclusive

What does exclusive mean?

Exclusive is most commonly used to describe things that are limited to certain people.

Exclusive can be thought of as an adjective form of the verb exclude, which means to shut out or keep out—the opposite of include. It can be applied in many different contexts, but almost all of them have to do with there being a limit on something, especially on how many people have access to something.

Exclusive can also be used as a noun referring to something that is available from only one place, especially a news story that is only being reported by a particular news organization or a product that is only being offered by one store.

Example: The highly exclusive event was only for A-list celebrities, but they let Ryan Reynolds in for some reason.

Where does exclusive come from?

Exclusive has been used in English since at least the 1400s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb exclūdere, which means “to shut out” or “to close off” and is formed from the parts ex-, meaning “out” and clūdere, meaning “to close.”

Exclusive has many different shades of meaning, but almost all of them relate to the idea of limiting things, shutting people out, or keeping things separate. It can mean “incompatible,” as in pain and happiness are mutually exclusive. It often means “limited to certain people,” as in an exclusive offer for our top customers or an exclusive resort. Clubs are exclusive if they only let certain people in. The word is often associated with fashion, especially things that are expensive and not available to a lot of people, as in exclusive boutiques. Sometimes an object can be described as exclusive without specifying the limitations involved, as in invitations to that party are very exclusive—meaning they’re very limited and selectively given.

Another common way that exclusive is used is to describe things that are only available to one person, or in one way, or through one provider, as in exclusive information or exclusive rights to the screenplay. This sense often gets turned into a noun. A news story that is only being provided by a single outlet can be called an exclusive, meaning it’s a story no one else has reported on or one that no one else has the right to pursue or publish, such as an interview with a public figure.

The opposite of exclusive is inclusive, and the two terms are often used in discussions of how organizations and groups can be less exclusive and more inclusive.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to exclusive?

• exclusively (adverb)
• exclusivity (noun)
• exclusiveness (noun)

What are some synonyms for exclusive?

• restrictive
• limited
• exclusionary

What are some words that share a root or word element with exclusive? 

 

• exclude
• include

What are some words that often get used in discussing exclusive?

• invitation
• contract
• offer
• product
• limit
• inclusive

How is exclusive used in real life?

Exclusive is often used to make things sound special and exciting, so you’ll see it used a lot in advertising and marketing.

The Hotel Royal is one of the most exclusive resorts in the world, magnificently nestled in a 47-acre park on Lake Geneva http://ow.ly/3iNle

— Leading Hotels (@LeadingHotels) December 2, 2010

More women in parliament please, to make it less exclusive and more inclusive. #useyourvote because it's your voice. @5050Parliament

— Annie Broadbent (@womeninwork) May 5, 2015

This Valentine's Day, we will call you up during dinner and pretend you're a high net worth client.

Contact your account manager for this exclusive offer.

— The Charlatan Group (@CharlatanGroup) February 3, 2020

Try using exclusive!

Is exclusive used correctly in the following sentence?

This exclusive first look can be seen by anyone at any time with no restrictions.