Exclusive vs Inclusive | Meanings, usage, and differences
People find difficult to understand the difference between exclusive and inclusive because of their appearing similarity. However, these two words have different meanings. The word exclusive, when used as an adjective, is used in the sense of limited. You may have heard terms like exclusive interview, exclusive club, etc. On the other hand, the word inclusive is used in the sense of complete or comprehensive. Recently, terms like inclusive society, inclusive nation are becoming very popular. Exclusive, at times, is used as a noun too. This is the difference between exclusive and inclusive. Let’s make it more clear by giving some examples in different contexts.
What does Exclusive mean?
The word exclusive is used as an adjective, and it has its adverbial form exclusively. Look at the following sentences.
1. An exclusive interview with the prime minister was published in this week’s issue of the magazine.
2. The meeting was held exclusive of free members.
In both sentences, the word exclusive is used in the sense of limited or private. As a result, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘a private interview with the prime minister was published in this week’s issue of the magazine’. Then,the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘the meeting was held limited of free members’.
However, there are times when exclusive is used as a noun. In this usage, it means an item or story published or broadcasted by only one source. Look at the example.
1. This week’s magazine includes a three-page exclusive with madam mayor of Storybrooke.
In this sentence, the word exclusive refers to an exclusive interview.
Further, exclusive is also used to give a meaning of being expensive or that is intended for rich or high society people. Look at the following example to understand this meaning clearly.
1. During yesteryear this was an exclusive club
2. One time, this had been an exclusive street in the town
What does Inclusive mean?
The word inclusive is used as an adjective, and it has its adverbial form inclusively. Take a look at the following sentences.
1. The fee was inclusive of expenses towards lunch.
2. He paid the charges inclusive of fine.
In both the sentences, the word inclusive is used in the sense of comprehensive or complete; that is includes everything. Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘the fee was comprehensive of expenses towards lunch’ and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘he paid the complete charges including the fine.’
Further, inclusive is also used to give the meaning that it includes diverse group of people and treats everyone fairly and equally. For example:
1. That is an inclusive society
2. Australia government’s vision is to become an inclusive nation
3. There was a conference organized by UNU on how to promote inclusive growth in Africa
What is the difference between Exclusive and Inclusive?
• First of all, exclusive is used as an adjective and a noun while inclusive is used only as an adjective. However, both these words have their own adverbial variation.
• Exclusive, as an adjective, is used to give the meaning limited or private. It also used to give a meaning of expensive.
• Inclusive, as an adjective, is used to give the meaning comprehensive or complete. If you look at last example under inclusive, it is interesting to note that the word inclusive gives the meaning of ‘together with’ as in the sentence ‘he paid the charges inclusive of fine.’ It only means ‘he paid the charges together with fine.’
• Inclusive also means that it includes diverse group of people and treat everyone fairly and equally such as inclusive society, inclusive nation, inclusive growth.
• When used as a noun exclusive means an item or story published or broadcasted by only one source.
• The adverb of exclusive is exclusively while the adverb of inclusive is inclusively.
In this way, the two words inclusive and exclusive carry their own meanings. They have their own, different usages, as well. Therefore, when using them in sentences, special attention should be given to choose the right word as there is a distinct difference between exclusive and inclusive in their meanings.
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