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

In 2017, the court backed a church preschool's challenge to its exclusion from a Missouri grant program to resurface playgrounds. – Maureen Groppe Justice Barrett is not participating Justice Amy Coney Barrett is not participating in the oral arguments. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025

One significant exclusion: Phylicia Rashad, in her Broadway debut as a director. —Scott Heller, New York Times, 1 May 2025

This pattern appears to be repeated across the globe, raising serious questions about the role of addiction capitalism in perpetuating inequality and social exclusion. —Mary Johnstone-Louis, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

The state board realized that enforcing the religious exclusion would violate the First Amendment. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 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