: 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
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Despite the truce, Israeli forces carried out artillery attacks in the enclave, Al Jazeera reported, alongside deadly strikes in Syria, and against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
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Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 Nov. 2025
From its mountainside perch, the star oversaw the area’s growth from a woodsy outpost along the Mount Lowe Railway through a post-WWII housing boom into the Civil Rights era, when Altadena, unlike so many enclaves across America, welcomed Black families.
—Cheri Mossburg, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
The flourishing enclave was deemed the Black Wall Street, and was home to many businesses, homes, schools, churches, a public library and more.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Throughout history, dedicated enclaves, such as the avant-garde artists of the early 20th century and urban subcultures of the late 20th century, have pursued innovation without the promise of immediate financial reward.
—W. David Marx, The Atlantic, 25 Nov. 2025
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Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 Nov. 2025
From its mountainside perch, the star oversaw the area’s growth from a woodsy outpost along the Mount Lowe Railway through a post-WWII housing boom into the Civil Rights era, when Altadena, unlike so many enclaves across America, welcomed Black families.
—Cheri Mossburg, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
The flourishing enclave was deemed the Black Wall Street, and was home to many businesses, homes, schools, churches, a public library and more.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Throughout history, dedicated enclaves, such as the avant-garde artists of the early 20th century and urban subcultures of the late 20th century, have pursued innovation without the promise of immediate financial reward.
—W. David Marx, The Atlantic, 25 Nov. 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 9 Dec. 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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