Definition of "exclusive" in English

adjective

1. (literally) Excluding items or members that do not meet certain conditions.

2. (figuratively) Referring to a membership organisation, service or product: of high quality and/or renown, for superior members only.

3. A snobbish usage, suggesting that members who do not meet requirements, which may be financial, of social status, religion, skin colour etc., are excluded.

   • Exclusive clubs tend to serve exclusive brands of food and drinks, in the same exorbitant price range, such as the 'finest' French châteaux.

4. Exclusionary.

5. Whole, undivided, entire.

   • The teacher's pet commands the teacher's exclusive attention.

6. (linguistics) Of or relating to the first-person plural pronoun when excluding the person being addressed.

   • The pronoun in "We're going to a party later, but you aren't invited" is an exclusive "we".

7. (of two people in a romantic or sexual relationship) Having a romantic or sexual relationship with one another, to the exclusion of others.

   • They decided to no longer be exclusive.

noun

1. Information (or an artefact) that is granted or obtained exclusively.

   • The editor agreed to keep a lid on a potentially disastrous political scoop in exchange for an exclusive of a happier nature.

2. A member of a group who excludes others from their society.

3. (grammar) A word or phrase that restricts something, such as only, solely, or simply.