enclave

noun

en·​clave ˈen-ˌklāv  ˈän-ˌklāv 

: a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as if within foreign territory

ethnic enclaves

Did you know?

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

Since the nominal ceasefire went into effect in October 2025, Israel’s near-daily strikes have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza, according to the UN, and no hospitals in the enclave are fully functioning. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2026

Sunday’s strikes came more than a year after a ceasefire deal was reached between Israel and Hamas, yet Israel still launches near-daily strikes on the enclave. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

Donalds defeated Jolly in five Broward cities, which are the smallest and wealthiest enclaves in the most Democratic county in Florida. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

The wealthy Bay Area enclave of Marin County, which sits just north of San Francisco, also came out against Prop 40 as did San Mateo County, which is just south of the city. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from enclaver to enclose, from Vulgar Latin *inclavare to lock up, from Latin in- + clavis key — more at clavicle

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for enclave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave
• architrave

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Kids Definition

enclave

noun

en·​clave ˈen-ˌklāv  ˈän- 

ˈäŋ-

: a distinct territorial, cultural, or social group within a foreign region or community

Etymology

from French enclave "enclave," derived from early French enclaver "to enclose"

Medical Definition

enclave

noun

en·​clave ˈen-ˌklāv; ˈän-ˌklāv  ˈäŋ- 

-ˌkläv

: something enclosed in an organ or tissue but not a continuous part of it