Words / B2

ik-SKLOOS-iv/ɪkˈskluːsɪv/

Exclusive means limited to a particular group, or a story one outlet has: an exclusive interview; an exclusive club; exclusive of tax (not including). Include is not a clean opposite; inclusive is the policy twin. Exclude is already in the dictionary. Do not call a public park exclusive. Journalism: a world exclusive.

Meaning

Available only to a particular group; also not willing to include others; also a news story only one outlet has.

Examples

• “The club is exclusive and the waiting list is long.”
• “The paper ran an exclusive interview with the whistleblower.”
• “Prices are exclusive of VAT, which is the “not including” sense.”

Good to know

an exclusive + noun; exclusive of (not including). News: an exclusive. Opposite policy tone: inclusive. Verb: exclude.

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