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REFERENCE

exclusion

n.
US //ɪkˈskɫuʒən// UK //ɛksklˈuːʒən// ex·clu·sion
  1. 1 leaving someone out (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of not allowing someone to join a group or take part in an activity.

    the act of barring someone from participation or membership in a group or activity.

    Example

    The exclusion of certain students from the club felt very unfair to the rest of the class.

    Example

    The systematic exclusion of minority voices from the decision-making process led to a formal complaint being filed with the board.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the person or group being left out.

  2. 2 legal or insurance exception (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    something that is specifically not included in a contract or insurance plan.

    a specific provision in a legal document or insurance policy that removes coverage for certain risks or items.

    Example

    Read the fine print to see if there is an exclusion for water damage in your home insurance.

    Example

    The policy contains a specific exclusion for pre-existing medical conditions, meaning the company will not pay for those treatments.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the plural form 'exclusions' when referring to a list in a contract.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a high-frequency term in business and legal English that students will encounter in contracts and terms of service.

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  1. 3 forcing something out (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Science

    the act of pushing something out of a space.

    the act of expelling or forcing something out from a contained area.

    Example

    The exclusion of air from the container helps keep the food fresh for longer.

    Example

    The rapid exclusion of gases from the chamber caused a sudden drop in internal pressure.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is quite rare in everyday conversation and is mostly found in scientific or very formal academic writing.

Origin

From Middle English exclusion, exclusioun, from Old French [Term?] and Latin exclusiō, from exclūdō. By surface analysis, exclude + -sion.

Word family

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