exclusive

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​clu·​sive ik-ˈsklü-siv 

-ziv

1

a

: excluding or having power to exclude

b

: limiting or limited to possession, control, or use by a single individual or group

2

a

: excluding others from participation

b

: snobbishly aloof

3

a

: accepting or soliciting only a socially restricted patronage (as of the upper class)

b

: stylish, fashionable

c

: restricted in distribution, use, or appeal because of expense

4

a

: single, sole

exclusive jurisdiction

b

: whole, undivided

his exclusive attention

exclusiveness noun

exclusiveness

2 of 2

noun

ex·​clu·​sive·​ness

|ivnə̇s, 

|ēv- also |əv-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being exclusive

Did you know?

In words such as expel, export, and exclusive, the prefix ex- means "out of, outside". Thus, to exclude means basically to close the door in order to keep someone or something out. When the word appears in an advertisement, it's often making an appeal to snobs. An "exclusive" offer is supposedly made to only a few people; not so many years ago, "exclusive" housing developments excluded those of a certain race or color. If a product is being sold exclusively by one store, you won't be able to find it anywhere else. When a newspaper or news show has an exclusive, it's a story that no one else has yet reported. Exclusive's antonym is inclusive; an inclusive policy, an inclusive church, or an inclusive approach is one that aims to include as many people as possible.

Synonyms of exclusive

Adjective

• sole

Examples of exclusive in a Sentence

Adjective

He belongs to an exclusive club.

She attended an exclusive private school.

one of the city's most exclusive restaurants

They gave their exclusive attention to the job.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Eau Resort & Spa Manalapan, Florida Situated on a private beach surrounded by tropical gardens, the exclusive Eau Resort & Spa takes full advantage of its Palm Beach location. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. —Dennis Romero, NBC news, 9 June 2026

Subscribe here to our newsletter In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 June 2026

All the group’s runs are free to join, but regular attendees are encouraged to become full-fledged members starting at $30 annually, which comes with access to exclusive events, discounts on race registration and more, according to the group’s relations chair Trevor Hanson. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing exclusive

• exclusive disjunction
• exclusive economic zone
• exclusive of
• mutually exclusive

Rhymes for exclusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

exclusive

adjective

ex·​clu·​sive

iks-ˈklü-siv, 

-ziv

1

: excluding or trying to exclude others

an exclusive neighborhood

2

: sole entry 4 sense 2a

we have exclusive use of the beach

3

: full entry 1 sense 2c, complete

gave their exclusive attention to the job

exclusively adverb

exclusiveness noun

Legal Definition

exclusive

adjective

ex·​clu·​sive

1

a

: excluding or having power to exclude others

exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries

—U.S. Constitution art. I

b

: being independent from or not shared by others : sole

exclusive control

exclusive use

2

: limiting or limited to possession, ownership, or use by a single individual or group

an exclusive lease