Synonyms of inclusion
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

Examples of inclusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republican calls amendment misleading The campaign’s inclusion of gender-affirming care has renewed focus on that 2023 law, which Republican lawmakers passed amid a broader backlash to the transgender community nationally. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026 What's especially nice about this accessory is that it can be installed as a removable or permanent addition, thanks to the inclusion of locking tabs that can be bent before fitting to keep the clip attached for good. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026 Please fill out the below form for possible inclusion in a CNN story. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 People will need context, coaching, development, inclusion and psychological safety. — Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inclusion

Word History

Etymology

Latin inclusion-, inclusio, from includere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inclusion was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inclusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclusion. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

inclusion

noun
1
: the act of including : the state of being included
2
: something that is included

Medical Definition

inclusion

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

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