preclude

[ pri-klood ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·clud·ed, pre·clud·ing.

1. to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible:

   The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction.

   Synonyms: eliminate, forestall

2. to exclude or debar from something:

   His contract precludes a raise for him.

preclude

/ prɪˈkluːd; prɪˈkluːʒən; prɪˈkluːsɪv /

verb

1. to exclude or debar
2. to make impossible, esp beforehand

Derived Forms

• preclusion, noun
• preclusive, adjective
• preˈcludable, adjective
• preˈclusively, adverb

Other Words From

• pre·clud·a·ble adjective
• pre·clu·sion [pri-, kloo, -zh, uh, n], noun
• pre·clu·sive [pri-, kloo, -siv], adjective
• pre·clu·sive·ly adverb
• un·pre·clud·a·ble adjective
• un·pre·clu·sive adjective
• un·pre·clu·sive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of preclude¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin praeclūdere “to shut off, close,” equivalent to prae- pre- + -clūdere, combining form of claudere “to shut, close ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of preclude¹

C17: from Latin praeclūdere to shut up, from prae in front, before + claudere to close

Example Sentences

It also precluded collective bargaining rights for charter schoolteachers.

From Washington Post

The law precludes parents from suing their doctor or hospital when a child is born with severe brain damage as the result of oxygen deprivation or spinal cord injury.

From ProPublica

It is likely, in other words, that at least some people will be able to get an exemption from a statewide or citywide vaccine mandate if they have a medical condition that precludes them from being vaccinated.

From Vox

In this case, pandemic restrictions precluded this type of analysis.

From Outside Online

Metro said the collective bargaining agreement with the Metro police union “precludes lookback discipline” if an employee is not investigated in a timely manner, which was the case with the detective at the center of the internal probe.

From Washington Post

Crow explained that his site put preventative measures in place to preclude trolls from reigning.

From The Daily Beast

That did not preclude Ebony Jones from speaking about her mother.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, we should be wondering why it should preclude her from doing anything else she so chooses.

From The Daily Beast

Such a restraining order, however, will often preclude the defendant from retaining his counsel of choice.

From The Daily Beast

Which somehow didn't preclude your part-time summer job at Blenders Juicery.

From The Daily Beast

Its allegory, its learned literary allusions, its delving into obscure historic events, preclude any hope of popular success.

From Project Gutenberg

I reviewed all the circumstances which would preclude the possibility of an Indian attack on the three travelers.

From Project Gutenberg

Government had never intended to preclude itself from inquiring to what towns corporate powers should be extended.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter admitted the reproach—if reproach it were—of having framed the speech with a view to preclude discussion.

From Project Gutenberg

Your goodness, candor, and sincerity preclude your suspecting in others either fraud or malignity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• avert
• cease
• deter
• exclude
• forestall
• hinder
• impede
• obviate
• prevent
• prohibit
• rule out