# inclusive

/ˌɪnˈkɫusɪv/ (US) · /ɪnklˈuːsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inclusive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. welcoming everyone

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The school works hard to create an inclusive environment for students with disabilities.
- The company's new inclusive hiring policy led to a significant increase in staff diversity across all departments.

### 2. all-encompassing

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The price of the holiday is all-inclusive, so you don't pay extra for meals.
- The researcher provided an inclusive list of all the sources used during the five-year study.

### 3. including the dates mentioned

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The office will be closed from Monday to Thursday inclusive.
- The contract covers the period from January to June inclusive, meaning the agreement remains active until the final day of the sixth month.

### 4. we (including you)

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The school works hard to be inclusive of all students.
- The company updated its hiring policy to be more inclusive of candidates from diverse backgrounds.
- The resort offers an inclusive package that covers meals, excursions, and local transport, ensuring guests face no unexpected expenses during their stay.

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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.