exclusivity

American  

[eks-kloo-siv-i-tee] / ˌɛks kluˈsɪv ɪ ti /

Also exclusiveness

noun

1. the fact of shutting out some other thing; incompatibility.

   The apparent mutual exclusivity of their claims might seem to lead to inevitable conflict and deadlock.

2. the act or practice of shutting out all others from a relation, process, location, etc..

   The vows of marriage speak of exclusivity, permanence, and total self-giving.

   The program encourages mothers to maintain breastfeeding exclusivity—no formula or solid food—for the first six months of their infant’s life.

3. the tendency to resist including those who are different or do not meet a narrow set of criteria.

   The island’s population has maintained strong ties to cultural traditions—yet it is not a culture of exclusivity, but one that provides pathways for all to prosper.

4. the fact or quality of catering to, or being restricted to, affluent or upper-class people, often by virtue of comparatively high prices.

   It is one of the most fashionable vacation hotspots in the world, with a reputation for exclusivity, luxury, and breathtaking beauty.

5. a provision in a contract or piece of legislation that shuts out competition.

   Ending handset exclusivity will allow cell phone carriers to attract customers based on network quality and the services offered.

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Other Word Forms

• semiexclusiveness noun
• semiexclusivity noun
• ultraexclusiveness noun
• ultraexclusivity noun
• unexclusiveness noun
• unexclusivity noun

Etymology

Origin of exclusivity

First recorded in 1880–85; from French exclusivité, equivalent to exclusiv(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

That agreement caps Live Nation’s service fees at 15% and requires them to avoid anticompetitive practices like certain exclusivity agreements with venues.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2026

CEOs may wear jeans and go by their first names, but the city’s richest still long for exclusivity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

Many in Hollywood had raised concerns regarding a sale to Netflix, pointing to the company’s history of moving away from industry-accepted norms regarding theatrical releases and exclusivity agreements.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

“AP has been defined by exclusivity and for too many students,” Coleman said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

It’s our current exclusivity, not that multi-species past, that is peculiar—and perhaps incriminating.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

• particularity