exclusion

noun

ex·​clu·​sion ik-ˈsklü-zhən 

1

: the act or an instance of excluding

2

: the state of being excluded

exclusionary

ik-ˈsklü-zhə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

Examples of exclusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The announcements followed a meeting of the European Broadcasting Union, where several countries urged Israel’s exclusion over its conduct of the war in Gaza and allegations of interference in contest voting. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN rejected the possible exclusion of Israeli participants in the contest, to be held in May 2026 in Vienna. —Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025

The push to rid the Massachusetts Convention Center of racial bias and exclusion will take center stage in a state committee hearing next month. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025

That movie is bound to sweep many precursor awards, so its exclusion from Spirit Awards contention will open up the field to some true indies. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin exclusion-, exclusio, from excludere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing exclusion

• exclusion principle
• Pauli exclusion principle
• self-exclusion
• to the exclusion of

Rhymes for exclusion

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

Medical Definition

exclusion

noun

ex·​clu·​sion iks-ˈklü-zhən 

: surgical separation of part of an organ from the rest without excision

exclude

iks-ˈklüd 

transitive verb

excluded; excluding

Legal Definition

exclusion

noun

ex·​clu·​sion ik-ˈsklü-zhən 

1

: the act of excluding or state of being excluded

specifically : refusal of entry into the U.S. by immigration officials

review of deportation and exclusion orders

compare deportation

2

: something that excludes or is excluded: as

a

: a part of an insurance contract that excludes specified risks from coverage compare condition, declaration

b

: an amount that is excluded from tax liability compare credit, deduction, exemption

exclusionary

-zhə-ˌner-ē 

adjective