/ ɪkˈskluːsɪv; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
only to be used by one particular person or group; only given to one particular person or group :
The hotel has exclusive access to the beach.
exclusive rights to televise the World Cup
His mother has told 'The Times' about his death in an exclusive interview (= not given to any other newspaper) .
2.
( of a group, society, etc. ) not very willing to allow new people to become members, especially if they are from a lower social class :
He belongs to an exclusive club.
3.
of a high quality and expensive and therefore not often bought or used by most people :
an exclusive hotel
exclusive designer clothes
4.
not able to exist or be a true statement at the same time as sth else :
The two options are not mutually exclusive (= you can have them both) .
5.
exclusive of sb/sth not including sb/sth :
The price is for accommodation only, exclusive of meals.
OPP inclusive
► ex·clu·sive·ly adverb :
a charity that relies almost exclusively on voluntary contributions
► ex·clu·sive·ness noun [ U ]
■ noun
an item of news or a story about famous people that is published in only one newspaper or magazine
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (as a noun denoting something that excludes): from medieval Latin exclusivus , from Latin excludere shut out, from ex- out + claudere to shut.