exclusive

Exclusive is an adjective describing something that is restricted to a particular person, group, place, or use, and that excludes others. It can apply to access, membership, offers, or coverage, and often carries a sense of prestige or tight control.

In commerce and media, exclusive denotes arrangements that grant rights to a single distributor, retailer, licensee, or outlet, to the exclusion of competitors. Examples include exclusive distribution agreements, exclusive licensing, and exclusive sponsorships. Such arrangements can affect market dynamics and competition, depending on the jurisdiction and the specifics of the contract.

In logic and mathematics, exclusive refers to the exclusive or XOR operation. The exclusive or is true when exactly one of the inputs is true, but not both. This contrasts with inclusive or, where multiple inputs may be true simultaneously.

In journalism, an exclusive story or interview is reported by one outlet first, often with access not available to others. The term can indicate priority access, sensitive information, or strong editorial leverage.

In social and personal contexts, an exclusive relationship denotes a commitment between two people to refrain from romantic or sexual involvement with others. The term can also describe exclusive clubs, events, or amenities that restrict participation.

Etymology traces exclusive to Latin exclusivus, from excludere “to shut out.” Related terms include inclusive and nonexclusive.