Open to and including all people or things, especially those who might otherwise be left out.
From Latin 'inclusivus', from 'includere' (to shut in, include). The modern sense emphasizes broad, welcoming boundaries rather than tight, closed ones.
Inclusive used to mean ‘shutting things inside’; now we use it to mean ‘making room for more people’. It flips the older idea of boundaries from keeping people out to bringing them in.
"Inclusive" emerged in part as a response to exclusionary norms, including male-default language and institutions that marginalized women and gender minorities. Its gender context is tied to efforts to broaden participation and representation.
Use "inclusive" concretely—specify who is being included (e.g., women, non-binary people, caregivers) rather than as a vague positive label.
["welcoming","accessible","broadly representative"]
When describing inclusive initiatives, mention how they address historical exclusion of women and gender-diverse people, not just formal access.
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