exclusive
gb/ɪksklˈusɪv/ us/ɪksklˈusɪv/
B1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Limited to certain people
Only for certain people or groups; not shared with others.
Usage pattern:
exclusive to [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'exclusive' with 'expensive'; while many exclusive things are costly, the word focuses on restricted access, not price.
Synonyms
restricted (Implies limits on access but can be broader and less elite in tone.)
Antonyms
inclusive (Means open to all or welcoming everyone.)
Collocations
exclusive club
|exclusive interview
|exclusive access
|exclusive rights
|exclusive offer
Themes
social
|business
|events
|daily_life
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Membership to this gym is exclusive to residents of the building.
- The resort offers exclusive access to a private beach.
- They signed an exclusive contract with the designer.
- We got an exclusive interview with the actor.
- The event is by invitation only and highly exclusive.
Learner examples
- This park is exclusive to hotel guests.
- The party is exclusive to members.
- We have exclusive use of the room.
- Only VIPs have exclusive seats.
- The club is exclusive to women.
adjective
B2
property
2
Not including something else
Not including something; leaving it out.
Usage pattern:
exclusive of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'exclusive of' with 'inclusive of'; remember 'exclusive' means leaving something out.
Synonyms
excluding (Directly states that something is left out.)
Antonyms
inclusive (Means including everything mentioned.)
Collocations
exclusive of tax
|exclusive of expenses
Themes
mathematics
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The price is exclusive of tax and shipping.
- The offer is exclusive of additional fees.
- The budget, exclusive of salaries, is very small.
Learner examples
- The bill is exclusive of drinks.
- This price is exclusive of tax.
- The cost is exclusive of shipping.
adjective
B2
property
3
Fashionable and high-class limited access
Expensive and for rich or important people only.
Synonyms
upscale (Focuses on high quality and price, often without implying restricted access.)
Antonyms
cheap (Low cost and often low quality; open to all.)
Collocations
exclusive boutique
|exclusive restaurant
Themes
lifestyle
|fashion
|business
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They stayed at an exclusive hotel in the city center.
- She shops at an exclusive boutique on Fifth Avenue.
- The restaurant is known for its exclusive clientele.
Learner examples
- We went to an exclusive shop.
- The hotel is very exclusive.
- She likes exclusive restaurants.
Noun
B2
entity
4
News story given to one outlet
A news story that only one newspaper, TV channel, etc., has.
Synonyms
scoop (Informal term for breaking news first; may lack the exclusivity agreement.)
Antonyms
press release (Information given to all media outlets simultaneously.)
Collocations
newspaper exclusive
|TV exclusive
Themes
media
|journalism
|communication
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The magazine published an exclusive about the celebrity's wedding.
- We secured an exclusive with the prime minister.
- That interview was a world exclusive.
Learner examples
- The paper has an exclusive about the singer.
- We got a TV exclusive with the actor.
- That story was a big exclusive.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exclusive
IPA
GB/ɪksklˈusɪv/
US/ɪksklˈusɪv/
Syllables & stress
ex - clus - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (clus)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: exclusive
Noun
- Base: exclusive
- Plural: exclusives
Word family
Expressions
exclusive club
1/ɪksklˈusɪv klˈʌb/
fixed phrase
Club open only to certain people
A club that only allows certain people to join, often because of money, status, or special interests.
Examples
- He belongs to an exclusive club for top business leaders.
- The golf course is part of an exclusive club.
exclusive interview
1/ɪksklˈusɪv ˈɪntɚvjˌu/
fixed phrase
Interview given to one outlet only
An interview that is given only to one reporter or news organization.
Examples
- We watched an exclusive interview with the president on TV.
- The singer gave an exclusive interview about her new album.
exclusive rights
1/ɪksklˈusɪv ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
Legal rights held by one party only
Legal permission that only one person or group has to do something or use something.
Examples
- The publisher has exclusive rights to the book for five years.
- They bought the exclusive rights to distribute the film.
mutually exclusive
1/mjˈut͡ʃuəli ɪksklˈusɪv/
fixed phrase
cannot both be true or happen
Used when two things cannot both be true or happen at the same time.
Examples
- For many people, working full-time and studying full-time are mutually exclusive goals.
- The two proposals are mutually exclusive, so we can only choose one.
- These two events are not mutually exclusive; both can happen together.
mutually exclusive
2/mjˈut͡ʃuəli ɪksklˈusɪv/
fixed phrase
technical
Cannot be true at same time
If two things are mutually exclusive, they cannot both be true or happen together.
Examples
- These two options are mutually exclusive—you can only choose one.
- Being a good listener and talking constantly are mutually exclusive traits.