English Reference
adjective

inclusive

adj.
US /ˌɪnˈkɫusɪv/ UK /ɪnklˈuːsɪv/ in·clu·sive

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    making sure that everyone is included and treated fairly, especially people who are often ignored.

    aiming to include and provide equal access to people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised.

    Simple

    The school works hard to create an inclusive environment for students with disabilities.

    In context

    The company's new inclusive hiring policy led to a significant increase in staff diversity across all departments.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    including everything or everyone that is part of a group or a plan.

    comprehensive in scope; including all the expected parts, items, or people.

    Simple

    The price of the holiday is all-inclusive, so you don't pay extra for meals.

    In context

    The researcher provided an inclusive list of all the sources used during the five-year study.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    including the first and last dates or numbers in a range.

    denoting that the stated limits or extremes of a range are included in the total.

    Simple

    The office will be closed from Monday to Thursday inclusive.

    In context

    The contract covers the period from January to June inclusive, meaning the agreement remains active until the final day of the sixth month.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    used to describe the word 'we' when it includes the person you are talking to.

    relating to the first-person plural pronoun when it specifically includes the addressee.

    Simple

    In some languages, there is a special inclusive 'we' that always includes the listener.

    In context

    The linguist noted that the language distinguishes between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns to avoid ambiguity in social interactions.

    Usage

    In linguistics, this is often contrasted with the 'exclusive we' which leaves the listener out.

Parkrun is an inclusive joy for hundreds of thousands of runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes, ages and levels of fitness.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

In an industry that claims to be inclusive, it’s so easy to feel tokenised.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

From Middle French inclusif, from Medieval Latin inclūsīvus, from Latin inclūsus.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin inclūsus
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated