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Preclude vs Foreclose - What's the difference?

preclude | foreclose |

In transitive terms the difference between preclude and foreclose

is that preclude is remove the possibility of; rule out; prevent or exclude; to make impossible while foreclose is to shut up or out; to preclude; to stop; to prevent; to bar; to exclude.

preclude

English

Alternative forms

* (obsolete)

Verb

(preclud)
  • Remove the possibility of; (l); prevent or exclude; to make (l).
  • It has been raining for days, but that doesn’t preclude the possibility that the skies will clear by this afternoon!
  • * {{quote-web
  • , date = 2013-08-09 , author = Douglas Main , title = Israel Outlaws Water Fluoridation , site = livescience , url = http://www.livescience.com/38796-israel-outlaws-water-fluoridation.html , accessdate = 2013-09-30 }}
    Israel's decision to ban fluoridation follows a vote to preclude the practice in Portland, Ore., and Wichita, Kan. It was also recently overturned in Hamilton, the fourth most populous city in New Zealand.

    Derived terms

    * precludable * preclusion * preclusive * preclusively

    foreclose

    English

    (Foreclosure)

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To repossess a mortgaged property whose owner has failed to make the necessary payments.
  • They have to move out of their house because the bank foreclosed on their mortgage.
  • To cut off (a mortgager) by a judgment of court from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises.
  • To prevent from doing something.
  • To shut up or out; to preclude; to stop; to prevent; to bar; to exclude.
  • * Carew
  • The embargo with Spain foreclosed this trade.

    Derived terms

    * foreclosee * forecloser * foreclosure * foreclosable