inclusion

noun

in·​clu·​sion in-ˈklü-zhən 

1

: the act of including : the state of being included

inclusion of all expenses in the statement

2

: something that is included: such as

a

: a gaseous, liquid, or solid foreign body enclosed in a mass (as of a mineral)

b

: a passive usually temporary product of cell activity (such as a starch grain) within the cytoplasm or nucleus

3

: the act or practice of including students with disabilities with the general student population

Inclusion refers to a variety of integration approaches, but the goal is to blend special education students into the traditional classroom.

—Suevon Lee

—sometimes used before a noun

an inclusion classroom/school

4

: the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability)

promoting inclusion in the workplace

… academic libraries have traditionally struggled to address problems of equity, diversity and inclusion. The low representation of people of color in library staff has been a particular shortcoming, despite many initiatives to attract minority staff to the field.

—Lindsay McKenzie

Tech workers say they are more interested in diversity and are more willing to work to promote inclusion in their workplace …

—Jessica Guynn

Meaningful civic inclusion even now eludes many of our fellow citizens who are recognizably of African descent.

—Glenn C. Loury

5

mathematics : a relation between two classes (see class sense 3c) that exists when all members of the first class are also members of the second compare membership sense 3

inclusionary

in-ˈklü-zhə-ner-ē 

adjective

Examples of inclusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to a survey conducted last year by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), 34 percent of museums have been hit with the cancellation of government grants or contracts and 13 percent have been subjected to new legal restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion activities. —News Desk, Artforum, 11 May 2026

Arts industries are filled with historical examples of Jewish executives and creators going to bat for Black inclusion. —Stephen Silver, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026

Chesmer-Williams is a global growth and inclusion executive at Visa. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 11 May 2026

Instead, it was followed by a final bite in the form of a single petit four featuring the menu’s only evident inclusion of chocolate. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 10 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin inclusion-, inclusio, from includere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inclusion

• diversity, equity and inclusion
• inclusion body

Rhymes for inclusion

• allusion
• collusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• contusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• infusion

Kids Definition

inclusion

noun

in·​clu·​sion in-ˈklü-zhən 

1

: the act of including : the state of being included

2

: something that is included

Medical Definition

inclusion

noun

in·​clu·​sion in-ˈklü-zhən 

: something that is included

especially : a passive usually temporary product of cell activity (as a starch grain) within the cytoplasm or nucleus