exclave

noun

ex·​clave ˈek-ˌsklāv 

-ˌskläv

: a portion of a country separated from the main part and constituting an enclave in respect to the surrounding territory

Did you know?

You probably won't be surprised to learn that the key to "exclave" is found in "enclave." "Enclave" itself ultimately derives from the Latin word for "key," which is "clavis." It was adopted in the mid-19th century from Middle French enclaver ("to enclose"), which in turn derives (through Vulgar Latin) from in- and clavis. "Exclave" was formed about twenty years later by combining the prefix ex- and the "-clave" of "enclave." Other "clavis" descendants in English include "autoclave," "clavicle," "conclave," and "clavichord" ("an early keyboard instrument in use before the piano").

Examples of exclave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fueled by misinformation, poverty and lack of opportunities, more than 70,000 would-be migrants from Morocco and beyond swam or climbed over a breakwater last month to try to reach Ceuta, a Spanish exclave on the North African coast. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

More specifically, the five-mile border between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Ulf Kristersson’s comments come weeks after tens of thousands of people rushed into Spain’s exclave of Ceuta from neighboring Morocco, prompting sharp criticism from leaders across the continent. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Authorities have not said who organized a suspicious border breach in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa. — Beatriz Ríos, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

ex- + -clave (as in enclave)

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for exclave

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

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