exclusive

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​clu·​sive ik-ˈsklü-siv 

-ziv

1

a

: excluding or having power to exclude

b

: limiting or limited to possession, control, or use by a single individual or group

2

a

: excluding others from participation

b

: snobbishly aloof

3

a

: accepting or soliciting only a socially restricted patronage (as of the upper class)

b

: stylish, fashionable

c

: restricted in distribution, use, or appeal because of expense

4

a

: single, sole

exclusive jurisdiction

b

: whole, undivided

his exclusive attention

exclusiveness noun

exclusive

2 of 2

noun

: something exclusive: such as

a

: a news story at first released to or reported by only one source

b

: an exclusive right (as to sell a particular product in a certain area)

Did you know?

In words such as expel, export, and exclusive, the prefix ex- means "out of, outside". Thus, to exclude means basically to close the door in order to keep someone or something out. When the word appears in an advertisement, it's often making an appeal to snobs. An "exclusive" offer is supposedly made to only a few people; not so many years ago, "exclusive" housing developments excluded those of a certain race or color. If a product is being sold exclusively by one store, you won't be able to find it anywhere else. When a newspaper or news show has an exclusive, it's a story that no one else has yet reported. Exclusive's antonym is inclusive; an inclusive policy, an inclusive church, or an inclusive approach is one that aims to include as many people as possible.

Synonyms of exclusive

Adjective

• sole

Examples of exclusive in a Sentence

Adjective

He belongs to an exclusive club.

She attended an exclusive private school.

one of the city's most exclusive restaurants

They gave their exclusive attention to the job.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This exclusive space includes a private lounge, dedicated concierge, open bar, and a buffet that refreshes five times a day. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

The onetime estate of Dolly Parton, who passed away in August at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, has surfaced for sale in the exclusive Bird Streets neighborhood of Los Angeles for the first time in a quarter-century. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

First released in May as an exclusive at the National Gallery of Iceland, the album is coming to physical formats on November 27, via One Little Independent. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026

Check out our interactive map, an NBC News exclusive, to find out if there is a statute of limitations on rape in your state. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing exclusive

• exclusive disjunction
• exclusive economic zone
• exclusive of
• mutually exclusive

Rhymes for exclusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

exclusive

adjective

ex·​clu·​sive

iks-ˈklü-siv, 

-ziv

1

: excluding or trying to exclude others

an exclusive neighborhood

2

: sole entry 4 sense 2a

we have exclusive use of the beach

3

: full entry 1 sense 2c, complete

gave their exclusive attention to the job

exclusively adverb

exclusiveness noun

Legal Definition

exclusive

adjective

ex·​clu·​sive

1

a

: excluding or having power to exclude others

exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries

—U.S. Constitution art. I

b

: being independent from or not shared by others : sole

exclusive control

exclusive use

2

: limiting or limited to possession, ownership, or use by a single individual or group

an exclusive lease