exclusive

exclusive — adjective

1. limited to or controlled by only one person, group, or organization, so that no

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

limited to or controlled by only one person, group, or organization, so that no one else is allowed to share in it

Example

Tamar has exclusive use of the company car while her own is being repaired.

collocation: exclusive use of something

Hotel guests enjoy exclusive access to a private beach that others cannot use.

collocation: exclusive access to [place]

Common collocations
  • exclusive use
  • exclusive access
  • exclusive rights
  • exclusive deal
  • exclusive contract
  • exclusive interview
Synonyms
  • sole

    emphasises being the only one, without the active idea of shutting others out

  • private

    describes something personal or restricted, less formal and less about deliberate exclusion

  • limited

    broader; means restricted in number or amount, not necessarily to a single person or group

Antonyms
  • public

    available to everyone without restriction

  • shared

    used or enjoyed by more than one person or group

Common Mistakes

This offer is only exclusive for new members.
This offer is exclusive to new members.
the correct preposition after 'exclusive' in this sense is 'to', not 'for'.

2. of such high quality and high price that only wealthy people can afford or enjoy

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

of such high quality and high price that only wealthy people can afford or enjoy it

Example

Roya dined at an exclusive restaurant in Taipei where dinner costs over five thousand dollars.

collocation: exclusive restaurant / exclusive resort / exclusive neighbourhood

The boutique in Milan sells exclusive designer dresses handmade by local artisans.

Common collocations
  • exclusive restaurant
  • exclusive club
  • exclusive resort
  • exclusive neighbourhood
  • exclusive hotel
  • exclusive boutique
Synonyms
  • upscale

    more informal, mainly American; focuses on high quality without strong social-exclusion overtones

  • luxury

    emphasises comfort and high cost, not necessarily restricted access

  • high-end

    focuses on the top tier of quality and price in a market

Antonyms
  • common

    ordinary and available to everyone

  • cheap

    low in price and quality, easily accessible

Usage Note

Frequently used before a noun to describe places, products, or services that are deliberately kept expensive and limited to maintain a high-status image.

Common Mistakes

The restaurant is too exclusive for me.' (vague; sounds like the restaurant excludes you personally).
The restaurant is too expensive for me.' or 'The restaurant is too upscale for my budget.
'exclusive' describes the establishment's policy or quality, not your personal affordability.

3. used to indicate that a stated amount or price does not include a particular ite

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

used to indicate that a stated amount or price does not include a particular item or cost when calculating a total

Example

The rental fee is NT$15,000 per month, exclusive of water and electricity bills.

pattern: exclusive of [utility bills]

The tour price is exclusive of airfare, so you must book your own flights separately.

Common collocations
  • exclusive of tax
  • exclusive of VAT
  • exclusive of delivery charges
  • exclusive of service charges
Synonyms
  • excluding

    more common in everyday English; used directly before a noun without 'of'

  • not counting

    informal alternative, common in spoken English

  • not including

    neutral alternative, widely used in both spoken and written English

Antonyms
  • inclusive of

    the opposite; means the amount includes the specified item

  • including

    informal opposite; signals that the item is counted in the total

Grammar Patterns

exclusive of [cost item or component]

Usage Note

Always followed by 'of' when introducing the item not included. The opposite pattern is 'inclusive of'. This structure is common in business writing, invoices, and price quotations.

Common Mistakes

The price is NT$1,000 exclusive tax.
The price is NT$1,000, exclusive of tax.
'exclusive of' is a fixed two-word phrase; omitting 'of' is a common grammar error.

exclusive — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Exclusive emphasises that something is deliberately restricted to a particular person or group, with others actively shut out — for example, 'exclusive rights' means no one else is permitted. Sole focuses on singleness: someone or something is the only one that has, does, or is something ('sole responsibility', 'the sole survivor'). Unique means 'one of a kind', not merely limited ('a unique piece of art cannot be copied'). Only is a simple, everyday word for singleness ('the only option left'). Private means not public or shared, but without the implication that others are actively excluded ('private office' vs. 'exclusive club'). In practice, you would say 'She is the only person who knows the password' (only, not exclusive), but 'The magazine has an exclusive interview with the star' (no other outlet got access).

exclusive ↗sole ↗unique ↗only ↗private ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • mutually exclusive
  • almost exclusive
  • largely exclusive
  • supposedly exclusive

Phrases

  • mutually exclusive
  • exclusive of tax
  • exclusive rights to
  • exclusive to [someone]

Prepositions

  • exclusive of
  • exclusive to

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Exclusive comes from Latin 'excludere', meaning 'to shut out'. This word is made of 'ex-' (out) and 'claudere' (to shut or close). By the 1500s, English had 'exclude' as a verb, and by the 1600s 'exclusive' was in use as an adjective meaning 'shutting others out'. The sense of 'high-class and expensive' developed in the 1800s, and the noun meaning 'a story given to only one news outlet' emerged in journalism in the mid-1900s.