: 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
The road was the site of an international crisis when Baku accused Armenia of smuggling landmines and other weapons into the enclave through the road, implementing a months-long blockade in response.
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Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Israel launches Gaza City ground offensive Israel launched its ground offensive into Gaza City, further eroding prospects for a ceasefire in the enclave, which is already facing a humanitarian catastrophe.
—semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Southern California metropolis lays claim to some of the world’s best year-round farmers markets, and its enclaves of immigrant cuisines—Koreatown, Thai Town, and the San Gabriel Valley for Chinese—are unmatched.
—Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
While analysts argued about the Prime Minister’s wording, tanks rolled into central Gaza, and tens of thousands of Palestinians fled on foot, heading to southern areas of the enclave where there is no infrastructure to accommodate them.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
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Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Israel launches Gaza City ground offensive Israel launched its ground offensive into Gaza City, further eroding prospects for a ceasefire in the enclave, which is already facing a humanitarian catastrophe.
—semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Southern California metropolis lays claim to some of the world’s best year-round farmers markets, and its enclaves of immigrant cuisines—Koreatown, Thai Town, and the San Gabriel Valley for Chinese—are unmatched.
—Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
While analysts argued about the Prime Minister’s wording, tanks rolled into central Gaza, and tens of thousands of Palestinians fled on foot, heading to southern areas of the enclave where there is no infrastructure to accommodate them.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 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 28 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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