exclude
B2Neutral - appropriate across formal, informal, academic, and business contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To deliberately leave someone or something out; to prevent from entering, taking part, or being included.
To consider something as not possible; to ignore from consideration or calculation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often involves a conscious, active decision by an authority or system. Implies a barrier or criterion. Different from 'omit', which can be accidental.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar are identical.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
exclude someone/something from somethingexclude that-clause (formal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly formed with 'exclude'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to removing items from a calculation (e.g., 'excluding VAT'), or barring someone from a team/process.
Academic
Used in logical or statistical reasoning (e.g., 'The study excluded participants under 18.').
Everyday
Common in social contexts (e.g., not inviting someone) or rules (e.g., 'Pets are excluded.').
Technical
In computing, to filter out data; in law, to make something inadmissible.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The club rules exclude anyone not wearing a tie.
- We must exclude that possibility from our planning.
American English
- The policy excludes pre-existing conditions.
- He was excluded from the team for disciplinary reasons.
adverb
British English
- Prices are listed exclusively (related) online.
- The offer is available exclusively to members.
American English
- He works exclusively (related) from home.
- The deal was made exclusively with that supplier.
adjective
British English
- The exclusive (related) society was difficult to join.
- An excludable item on the list was debated.
American English
- The exclusive (related) neighborhood had strict rules.
- Certain costs are excludable for tax purposes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please don't exclude your little sister from the game.
- The price excludes lunch.
- The school decided to exclude the student for a week.
- We cannot exclude the chance of rain tomorrow.
- The report explicitly excludes data from the previous quarter.
- Feeling excluded from a social group can be very painful.
- The treaty clause effectively excludes any unilateral action.
- By narrowly defining the criteria, they excluded a vast number of potential applicants.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a NIGHTCLUB with a BOUNCER. The bouncer's job is to EXCLUDE certain people—to keep them OUT. The word sounds like 'X' (a mark for wrong/no entry) + 'CLUDE' (like 'conclude' or 'seclude'—to end or shut away).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/PHYSICAL SPACES AS CONTAINERS. To exclude is to place someone/something OUTSIDE the metaphorical container (group, list, area).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'исключать' in the sense of 'eliminate/eradicate' (e.g., eliminate a problem). 'Exclude' is about removal from a set or group, not total destruction.
- The Russian 'выключать' (to turn off/switch off) is a false friend.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'exclude' with 'seclude' (which means to hide away).
- Incorrect preposition: 'exclude of' instead of 'exclude from'.
- Using it for accidental omission rather than deliberate action.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'exclude' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Exclude' is usually a deliberate act of leaving something/someone out based on a rule or decision. 'Omit' can be deliberate or accidental, and often refers to leaving out a detail or piece of information.
Rarely. It typically has a negative or neutral connotation related to denial of access or inclusion. A positive spin might be 'excluding harmful substances'.
The most common noun is 'exclusion'. The act of excluding, or the state of being excluded.
No, this is redundant. 'Exclude' already means 'to shut or keep out'. Use 'exclude' alone.