Preclusion

Preclusion refers to the act of preventing something from happening or being done, often by creating conditions or circumstances that make it impossible or unlikely. This concept is commonly associated with legal contexts, where preclusion refers to the barring of certain claims or issues from being raised or litigated in a subsequent legal proceeding. In the realm of law, preclusion typically arises in the form of res judicata or collateral estoppel, which are doctrines aimed at promoting finality and judicial efficiency by preventing parties from relitigating matters that have already been decided or could have been raised in a prior lawsuit.

Outside of legal contexts, preclusion can also refer to the inhibition or hindrance of activities or events by external factors or circumstances. For example, adverse weather conditions may preclude outdoor activities such as picnics or sporting events. Similarly, financial constraints may preclude individuals from pursuing certain opportunities or experiences. In essence, preclusion encompasses the notion of something being prevented or made impracticable due to various constraints, limitations, or prior determinations.