# inclusion

/ˌɪnˈkɫuʒən/ (US) · /ɪnklˈuːʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inclusion
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the act of including

noun · CEFR B2

the act of making someone or something part of a group or list.

For teachers: the act of including or the state of being included within a group, set, or category.

- The inclusion of her name on the guest list made her very happy.
- The inclusion of diverse perspectives in the initial planning phase ensured that the final policy was robust and widely accepted.

### 2. social/educational practice

noun · CEFR B2

the practice of making sure everyone is treated fairly and has the same opportunities.

For teachers: the policy or practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised.

- The school has a strong policy on the inclusion of students with disabilities.
- Corporate social responsibility initiatives often focus on diversity and inclusion to foster a more equitable workplace environment.

### 3. something added

noun · CEFR B2

a person or thing that is added to a group or collection.

For teachers: a person or thing that is included within a larger group, set, or total.

- The new player was a great inclusion to the team.
- The editor decided that the inclusion of the final chapter was necessary to provide a sense of closure to the narrative.

### 4. material defect

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small piece of different material trapped inside a rock or metal.

For teachers: a solid, liquid, or gaseous foreign body enclosed within a mineral, metal, or other material.

- The diamond was cheaper because it had a small inclusion inside it.
- Geologists examine fluid inclusions within quartz crystals to determine the temperature and pressure conditions during the mineral's formation.

### 5. mathematical mapping

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way to show that one set of numbers fits inside another set.

For teachers: an injective function where each element of a subset is mapped to itself as an element of the containing set.

- The teacher explained the inclusion of whole numbers within the set of all integers.
- In set theory, the inclusion map provides a formal way to treat a subset as part of a larger codomain without changing the elements.

## Examples

- The school promotes the inclusion of all students in every activity.
- The company updated its hiring policy to ensure the inclusion of candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- True social inclusion requires more than just physical presence; it demands the removal of systemic barriers that prevent individuals from contributing fully to their communities.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.