exclusion
ik-SKLOO-zhuhn
/ɪkˈskluːʒən/
The act of keeping something out; in pest control, the practice of sealing entry points to physically prevent pests from entering a building.
Exclusion is a preventative, structural strategy rather than a chemical or reactive one.
The story behind the word. From Latin exclusionem, noun of action from excludere, meaning 'to shut out.' This is a compound of ex- (out) and claudere (to shut or close). In pest control, it refers to the structural practice of physically shutting pests out of a building.
Word relationships
- barring: Barring is a general term for blocking, while exclusion in this context is a specific professional methodology of building sealing.
- shutting out: Shutting out is an everyday phrasal verb, whereas exclusion is the formal industry term.
- admittance: Admittance is the act of allowing entry or access to a place.
- inclusion: Inclusion is the act of bringing something in as part of a group or whole.
Commonly confused with
- elimination: Elimination is the removal or killing of pests already present, while exclusion is preventing them from entering in the first place.
Word family
- exclude (verb): To deny entry or shut out.
- exclusionary (adjective): Serving to exclude.
Collocations
- pest exclusion
- exclusion techniques
- exclusion work
- structural exclusion
Example sentences
- "The pest control manual emphasizes that exclusion is the most effective long-term defense against mice." A structural pest control manual.
Memory hook
Think of 'ex-clusion' as 'excluding' pests from your house by 'closing' all the doors and cracks. Excluding pests by closing entry points.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to removing pests that are already inside; exclusion only refers to keeping them out.
Fun facts
- Professional pest exclusion often involves using copper mesh instead of steel wool, because copper does not rust when exposed to moisture in outdoor gaps.
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