WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•clude /prɪˈklud/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -clud•ed, -clud•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to prevent the presence of; exclude the possibility of:evidence that precluded a conviction.
pre•clude
(pri klo̅o̅d′),USA pronunciation v.t., -clud•ed, -clud•ing.
pre•clud′a•ble, adj.
pre•clu•sion
(pri klo̅o̅′zhən),USA pronunciation n.
pre•clu•sive
(pri klo̅o̅′siv),USA pronunciation adj.
pre•clu′sive•ly, adv.
- to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible:The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction.
- to exclude or debar from something:His physical disability precludes an athletic career for him.
- Latin praeclūdere to shut off, close, equivalent. to prae- pre- + -clūdere, combining form of claudere to shut, close
- 1610–20
- 1. forestall; eliminate.
'preclusive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):