preclude

/prɪˈkluːd/ formal

Say it: prih-KLOOD

verb To make something impossible; to prevent something from happening or someone from doing something by rule or circumstance.
His lack of a valid passport will preclude him from traveling internationally.

📖 Seen in the wild

The tight deadline will preclude any extensive revisions to the report.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ preclude in a sentence

The defendant's age did not preclude him from being tried as an adult.
A non-disclosure agreement will preclude employees from discussing the project publicly.
While this new evidence is compelling, it doesn't preclude the original theory entirely.
The sheer distance and cost preclude any chance of a surprise visit.
Let's be clear about the goals to preclude any misunderstanding later on.
The treaty was carefully worded to preclude any loopholes.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

prevent prohibit rule out obviate forestall avert forbid make impossible

prevent · a broader term; you can prevent something through direct action, while preclude often implies an existing condition makes it impossible.

prohibit · suggests forbidding something by law, rule, or authority.

rule out · implies eliminating a possibility based on logic, evidence, or a decision.

obviate · means to remove a need or difficulty in advance, thereby preventing it.

Opposites: permit, allow, enable, facilitate, include

🌱 Where it comes from

Preclude comes directly from the Latin word 'praecludere', which means 'to shut in front' or 'to block off'. It's formed from 'prae' (before) and 'claudere' (to close). This origin gives it the strong sense of shutting a door on a possibility before it can even be attempted.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

preclude the possibility ofpreclude someone from doing somethingdoes not precludepreclude further actionpreclude any doubt

Preclude is a strong, formal word that goes a step beyond 'prevent'. It suggests that a certain condition or factor makes an outcome impossible, not just difficult. While you can say 'I prevented him from leaving', it's more common for a rule, law, or circumstance to do the precluding, as in 'The rules preclude him from leaving'. Be careful not to confuse it with 'include', its near opposite in sound and meaning.

Word family: preclusion, preclusive

💬 Quick answers

What does preclude mean in simple terms?

It means to make something impossible or to prevent it from happening, usually because of a rule, condition, or circumstance.

What is the difference between preclude and prevent?

Preclude is stronger and more formal. It implies that a situation or rule makes something impossible, while 'prevent' can refer to any action that stops something from happening.

Is preclude a formal word?

Yes, preclude is considered a formal word. You will most often see it in legal, academic, and other professional writing rather than in casual conversation.

Can you give an example of preclude in a sentence?

Certainly. 'A conflict of interest would preclude the judge from hearing the case.'

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