: 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
Also, an increasing amount of food and humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter the enclave.
—
Ammar Cheikh Omar, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
At roughly the same time, small enclaves of Russian-émigré skaters began forming in out-of-the-way places in the United States, near excellent local ice rinks.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026
Gardon said the state is providing resources for developers to rebuild below-market-rate housing that was destroyed in the Palisades fire, which tore through the beach-side enclave in January 2025, killing 12 and destroying thousands of homes and structures.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
On Saturday, Israeli strikes killed 12 people including six children across Gaza, health authorities in the enclave said, despite the shaky ceasefire.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
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Ammar Cheikh Omar, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
At roughly the same time, small enclaves of Russian-émigré skaters began forming in out-of-the-way places in the United States, near excellent local ice rinks.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026
Gardon said the state is providing resources for developers to rebuild below-market-rate housing that was destroyed in the Palisades fire, which tore through the beach-side enclave in January 2025, killing 12 and destroying thousands of homes and structures.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
On Saturday, Israeli strikes killed 12 people including six children across Gaza, health authorities in the enclave said, despite the shaky ceasefire.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 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 6 Feb. 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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