Preclude is often used in legal writing, where it usually refers to making something legally impossible. A new law may be passed by Congress to preclude any suits of a certain kind against a federal agency, for example. Some judges have found that the warnings on cigarette packs preclude any suits against the tobacco companies by lung-cancer sufferers. But there are plenty of nonlegal uses as well. Bad weather often precludes trips to the beach, and a lack of cash might preclude any beach vacation at all.
I fear these things, but vaguely, for my brain buzzes in the merciful wash of endorphins that preclude any thought from occupying it too long. Louise Erdrich, Harper's, May 1993… the institution [of slavery] in the United States was almost uniquely despotic, a closed system so powerful and totalitarian that organized insurrection was almost entirely precluded … William Styron, American Heritage, October 1992But conceptual blinders can preclude observation, while most accurate generalities guarantee no proper resolution of specific anatomies, but can certainly guide perceptions along fruitful paths. Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989… the same profusion of water that precluded overland travel in the summer months could, during the sledgehammer freeze of winter, be utilized as a natural highway—albeit a highway of ice. Jon Krakauer, Smithsonian, November 1987 She suffered an injury that precluded the possibility of an athletic career. Bad weather precluded any further attempts to reach the summit. See More
Recent Examples on the WebThe Cardinals are about $18 million under the salary cap, according to the NFL Players Association and overthecap.com, so paying Golden now wouldn’t preclude them from making other moves this fall. Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 22 Aug. 2022 Saban never let an initial impression of a player preclude him from pursuing or moving on to other options. John Talty | Jtalty@al.com, al, 1 Aug. 2022 Lares said her retirement, effective at the end of the year, doesn’t completely preclude her from performing. Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, 8 July 2022 It was written and shoved through Congress not to invite debate but to preclude it; not to reflect popular consensus, but to thwart it. Kevin Roberts, WSJ, 23 May 2022 However, that doesn’t seem to be enough these days as more and more influencers, and micro-celebrities, are opting to start small businesses on the side, which often preclude them from marketing any brands in the same industry. Josh Wilson, Forbes, 16 May 2022 Fewer side buttons save the Pro 0.1 ounces (2.9 g) but preclude it from being ambidextrous. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 10 May 2022 The shortage could be most serious for parents whose children suffer from medical issues that preclude them from easily changing formulas. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 10 May 2022 Fallon and Meyers have already hosted, in 2010 and 2014, respectively, although that doesn’t preclude them from doing it again. Michael Schneider, Variety, 6 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin praecludere, from prae- + claudere to close — more at close entry 1