Exclusion: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to the act of keeping someone or something out of a group, place, or privilege.

• The exclusion of women from top positions is a major issue.
• His exclusion from the team was unexpected.

Use when talking about something that has not been included or left out, often by mistake or oversight.

• The omission of key details caused confusion.
• Her omission from the guest list led to her feeling overlooked.

Use when describing the state of being apart from others, especially for long periods, which can be physical or emotional.

• The patient was kept in isolation to prevent the spread of infection.
• His isolation from family and friends made him feel lonely.

Use when discussing enforced separation of groups of people, usually based on race, class, or other differences, typically with a negative connotation.

• Racial segregation was practiced in some schools.
• The segregation of duties in the workplace helps prevent fraud.

Used when someone or something is not allowed to be included or participate in something.

• Her exclusion from the club was unfair
• The policy calls for the exclusion of certain individuals

Used when someone is freed from an obligation or rule that applies to others.

• Students with good grades can apply for an exemption from the exam
• He received a tax exemption for his donations to charity

Used when an official rule or law prevents something from happening.

• The government decided to put a ban on smoking in public places
• There is a ban on the sale of fireworks

Involves a formal and authoritative restriction against an activity, similar to a ban but often used in more serious or formal contexts.

• The prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s is known as the Prohibition era in the US
• There is a prohibition against using cell phones during the meeting

Use 'exclusion' when referring to the process of taking someone or something out from a larger whole, often in an academic or scientific context.

• Researchers worked on the exclusion of impurities from the sample.
• The process involved careful exclusion of irrelevant data.

Use 'elimination' when discussing the process of removing or annihilating something completely. Often used in competitive settings, problem-solving, and systematic processes.

• The elimination of waste is crucial for the environment.
• She won the contest by elimination of all her opponents.

Use 'removal' when talking about taking something away, often when it no longer belongs or is needed. It is commonly used in both physical and non-physical contexts like deleting, moving out, or demotion.

• The removal of the old furniture made space for the new decor.
• The removal of the manager caused unrest among the employees.

Use 'extraction' when describing the act of pulling something out, especially when it requires effort. Commonly used in medical, mining, and scientific contexts.

• The dentist performed an extraction on the infected tooth.
• The extraction of oil from the ground is a complex process.