enclosure

noun

en·​clo·​sure in-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce enclosure (audio)
en-
variants or less commonly inclosure
1
: the act or action of enclosing : the quality or state of being enclosed
2
: something that encloses
3
: something enclosed
a letter with two enclosures

Examples of enclosure in a Sentence

During the day the horses are kept in an enclosure. a letter with two enclosures One of the enclosures was a photograph. the enclosure of a photograph with a letter the enclosure of the garden
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the door to their mountaintop enclosure was opened, one condor spread its wings and took flight as a crowd watched. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 For the past several months, the two lived in an outdoor enclosure roughly the size of four home garages. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025 As with the enclosures in England and Scotland, villagers were uprooted and dispossessed to make way for sheep and cattle. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025 Concerns included the capybara's young age in a noisy, busy setting, a small enclosure, no access to swimming water with only a dog water bowl available, and no capybara companion. Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enclosure

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enclosure was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enclosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enclosure. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

enclosure

noun
en·​clo·​sure
variants also inclosure
in-ˈklō-zhər
1
: the act of enclosing : the state of being enclosed
2
: an enclosed space
3
: something (as a fence) that encloses
4
: something enclosed
a letter with two enclosures

More from Merriam-Webster on enclosure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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