verb
preclude
prih-KLOOD
verb
1
To make something impossible or rule it out in advance.
"His criminal record precludes him from holding public office."
"The tight schedule precludes any last-minute changes."
How to Use Preclude
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo block something from happening or being possible, usually because of an existing rule, fact, or condition.
Common pairings
preclude the possibility
does not preclude
preclude any chance of
Word Forms
precluded past tense, precludes singular
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His criminal record _____ him from holding public office.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin praecludere, \"to shut off, close in advance,\" from prae- (\"before\") plus claudere (\"to close\").