inclusion

noun

in·​clu·​sion in-ˈklü-zhən 

1

: the act of including : the state of being included

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)

… 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

inclusionary

in-ˈklü-zhə-ner-ē 

adjective

Examples of inclusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The committee said in a statement that the film’s inclusion underscores Indonesian cinema’s growing ambition to strengthen its presence on the global stage. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025

McCormick has long been an advocate and supporter of Best Buddies, an organization that champions inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025

At that time, Iryna Deriugina, President of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, told me that the UGF would await action from the FIG regarding the Russian and Belarusian inclusion at the Paris competition. —Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Officials have pointed to the success of the Mason, a full-inclusion elementary school that has served the community for decades. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin inclusion-, inclusio, from includere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inclusion

• diversity, equity, and inclusion
• inclusion body

Rhymes for inclusion

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

Kids Definition

inclusion

noun

in·​clu·​sion in-ˈklü-zhən 

1

: the act of including : the state of being included

2

: something that is included

Medical Definition

inclusion

noun

in·​clu·​sion in-ˈklü-zhən 

: something that is included

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