adjective
- not admitting of something else; incompatible: mutually exclusive plans of action.
- omitting from consideration or account (often followed by of): a profit of ten percent, exclusive of taxes.
- limited to the object or objects designated: exclusive attention to business.
- shutting out all others from a part or share: an exclusive right to film the novel.
- fashionable; stylish: to patronize only the most exclusive clothing designers.
- charging comparatively high prices; expensive: exclusive shops.
- noting that in which no others have a share: exclusive information.
- single or sole: the exclusive means of communication between two places.
- disposed to resist the admission of outsiders to association, intimacy, etc.: an exclusive circle of intimate friends.
- admitting only members of a socially restricted or very carefully selected group: an exclusive club.
- excluding or tending to exclude or prohibit, as from use or possession: exclusive laws; exclusive restrictions on use of the property.
- Grammar. (of the first person plural) not including the person or persons spoken to, as we in We’ll see you later.Compare inclusive(def 4).
noun
- Journalism. a piece of news, or the reporting of a piece of news, obtained by a newspaper or other news organization, along with the privilege of using it first.
- an exclusive right or privilege: to have an exclusive on providing fuel oil to the area.
adjective
- excluding all else; rejecting other considerations, possibilities, events, etcan exclusive preoccupation with money
- belonging to a particular individual or group and to no other; not sharedexclusive rights; an exclusive story
- belonging to or catering for a privileged minority, esp a fashionable cliquean exclusive restaurant
- (postpositive foll by to) limited (to); found only (in)this model is exclusive to Harrods
- single; unique; onlythe exclusive means of transport on the island was the bicycle
- separate and incompatiblemutually exclusive principles
- (immediately postpositive) not including the numbers, dates, letters, etc, mentioned1980–84 exclusive
- (postpositive foll by of) except (for); not taking account (of)exclusive of bonus payments, you will earn this amount
- commerce (of a contract, agreement, etc) binding the parties to do business only with each other with respect to a class of goods or services
- logic (of a disjunction) true if only one rather than both of its component propositions is trueCompare inclusive (def. 5)
noun
- an exclusive story; a story reported in only one newspaper
mid-15c., “so as to exclude,” from Medieval Latin exclusivus, from exclus-, past participle stem of excludere (see exclude).
Of monopolies, rights, franchises, etc., from 1760s; of social circles, clubs, etc., “unwilling to admit outsiders,” from 1822. Related: Exclusively; exclusiveness.