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

exclusive

2 of 2

noun

: something exclusive: such as

a

: a news story at first released to or reported by only one source

b

: an exclusive right (as to sell a particular product in a certain area)

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

Adjective

• single
• sole
• unshared

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

Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

Grizzlies rise; Wolves tumble; plus the perfect gift for all 30 teams (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic) Get all-access to exclusive stories. —Mark Cooper, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024

Noun

This is for the folks who love when syrup touches their eggs; a limited-time exclusive at some, but not all, Walmart and Kroger. —John Graham, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024

Watch on Amazon My Lady Jane There are a lot of what-ifs about Amazon's latest Prime Video exclusive. —Matt Kamen, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing exclusive

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

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