What does 'preclude' mean?

The term 'preclude' means to make something impossible or to prevent it from happening. In various contexts, it is often used to denote a situation where one action or condition prevents another from occurring. This aligns perfectly with the definition you provided, which highlights the act of preventing or creating obstacles that hinder an event or condition from taking place.

For example, if a new law precludes a certain activity, it means that the law effectively makes it impossible for that activity to occur within the specified parameters. Thus, understanding 'preclude' as a term that entails negation or prevention is essential for grasping its usage in both spoken and written contexts.