exclusive

Everyday

1. Exclusive means only for one person or group, not shared with others. tree →
2. An exclusive shop, club or hotel is expensive and lets in only certain people. tree →
3. (noun) An exclusive is a news story that only one newspaper or channel has. tree →
4. Exclusive of means not including: the price is exclusive of tax. tree →
5. (maths) Mutually exclusive events cannot both happen at the same time. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and probability, mutually exclusive events cannot happen together (a coin cannot land heads and tails at once). In money problems «exclusive of tax» means the tax must still be added. In everyday life, «exclusive» deals and clubs are for only some people. Phrases: exclusive to, exclusive of, mutually exclusive, an exclusive interview.

Examples

• This toy is exclusive to our shop. tree →
• The price of 50 pounds is exclusive of delivery. tree →
• Rolling a 2 and rolling a 5 with one dice are mutually exclusive. tree →
• They stayed at an exclusive hotel by the beach. tree →
• The newspaper got an exclusive interview with the singer. tree →
• The club is exclusive — you need an invitation. tree →
• The game has an exclusive level for members. tree →
• The Mysteries were celebrated by the Athenians every five years, and were, for a long time, their exclusive privilege. tree →

Note

Opposite: inclusive. In maths: «50 exclusive of 10 delivery» means you pay 50 + 10 = 60; «inclusive» means the 10 is already in the 50. «Exclusive» clubs can be unfair because they leave people out. Adverb: exclusively (only).