: a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as if within foreign territory
ethnic enclaves
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Enclave comes from French enclaver, meaning "to enclose," which itself is based on the Latin noun clavis, meaning "key." Clavis opened the door to a few other English words, some of which might seem unlikely relatives of enclave. For example, clavicle, the word for the bone that joins the breastbone and the shoulder blade, and the musical sign clef.
Examples of enclave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gaza City is in the north of the 26-mile coastal enclave and has been devastated by Israeli military strikes over the past 22 months.
—
Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The former chief of the Israeli military said more than 1 in 10 Palestinians in the enclave have been killed or injured since the war began nearly two years ago.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Israel is planning a new offensive to fully occupy Gaza in its effort to end Hamas’ control of the enclave and free its remaining hostages.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Yet a 2020 study commissioned by the city looking at the commercial heart of the enclave pointed out a widening technological and generational gap, one only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
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Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The former chief of the Israeli military said more than 1 in 10 Palestinians in the enclave have been killed or injured since the war began nearly two years ago.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Israel is planning a new offensive to fully occupy Gaza in its effort to end Hamas’ control of the enclave and free its remaining hostages.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Yet a 2020 study commissioned by the city looking at the commercial heart of the enclave pointed out a widening technological and generational gap, one only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enclave
Cite this Entry
“Enclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enclave. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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Medical Definition
enclave
noun
en·clave
ˈen-ˌklāv; ˈän-ˌklāv 
ˈäŋ-
ˈäŋ-
-ˌkläv
: something enclosed in an organ or tissue but not a continuous part of it
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