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You might think of a sconce (the word that when combined with the prefix en- forms ensconce) as a type of candleholder or lamp, but the word can also refer to a defensive fortification, usually one made of earth. Originally, then, a person who was ensconced was enclosed in or concealed by such a structure, out of harm's way. One of the earliest writers to apply the verb ensconce with the general sense of "hide" was William Shakespeare. In The Merry Wives of Windsor the character Falstaff, hoping to avoid detection when he is surprised during an amorous moment with Mrs. Ford, says "She shall not see me; I will ensconce me behind the arras."
Examples of ensconce in a Sentence
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
By the time Bachmann’s 2012 presidential bid flamed out, Miller was already firmly ensconced with then-Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who shared his hard-line obsession with immigration, and Bannon, who provided a broader nationalist, populist scaffolding.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
All of the items the students found were safely ensconced in a work area Harris-Thacker has created so students can study their finds.
—Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Brent Pankhurst’s approach to self-care is as well-tailored as a bespoke suit—something underlined by his flagship location, ensconced in menswear brand Thom Sweeney’s London townhouse.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ensconce
Cite this Entry
“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensconce. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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ensconce
verb
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