: 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
Pineapple Grove Arts District Just off Atlantic Avenue, this artsy enclave is best known for its independent boutiques, casual bistros, and a steady lineup of galleries, including House of Perna, Brulé Bistro, and Addison Gallery.
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Nigeria has experienced a dramatic surge in mass attacks by armed gangs, particularly Islamist militants, who often operate from forest enclaves and target villages, schools and places of worship.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Israeli fire in the enclave on Wednesday left 11 Palestinians dead, health officials said.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
That cut-off excludes the state’s priciest enclaves like Aspen, Vail and Telluride.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Nigeria has experienced a dramatic surge in mass attacks by armed gangs, particularly Islamist militants, who often operate from forest enclaves and target villages, schools and places of worship.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Israeli fire in the enclave on Wednesday left 11 Palestinians dead, health officials said.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
That cut-off excludes the state’s priciest enclaves like Aspen, Vail and Telluride.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 21 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 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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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