: 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
After his shooting, residents of his block in the Far Northwest Side’s Edison Park neighborhood, an enclave that houses many police officers and city workers, tied blue ribbons to trees.
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Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
When Pope Francis used to call the parish priest in Gaza, as he was known to do every evening during Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave, the Vatican always declined to provide details, describing the initiative as a personal pastoral act by the pope.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
The neighborhood/area Zadún sits in Puerto Los Cabos, a quiet enclave just minutes from the artistic community of San José del Cabo and far from Cabo San Lucas’ more party-centric scene.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Most surviving enclaves are too small to shade on this map; they can only be circled.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
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Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
When Pope Francis used to call the parish priest in Gaza, as he was known to do every evening during Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave, the Vatican always declined to provide details, describing the initiative as a personal pastoral act by the pope.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
The neighborhood/area Zadún sits in Puerto Los Cabos, a quiet enclave just minutes from the artistic community of San José del Cabo and far from Cabo San Lucas’ more party-centric scene.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Most surviving enclaves are too small to shade on this map; they can only be circled.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enclave
Cite this Entry
“Enclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enclave. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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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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