: 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
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San Diego’s East County — Santee, Lakeside, Ramona, Alpine — and the inland corridor up Interstate 15 through Murrieta and Temecula are not coastal enclaves.
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Laura Koval, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The other exclusive enclave, the 8,000-square-foot Loft Suite, faces the stern and unfolds across two decks, offering three bedrooms, a living room, dining for eight, a full kitchen, and outdoor terraces.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025
Five months prior, Majd had left the enclave through Egypt with his mother, Islam Felfel, his younger brother, Nader, 10, and his sister, Rahaf, 7, during a ceasefire.
—Christina MacFarlane, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
The 225-room resort boasts a prime setting on Spain’s Costa del Sol, near the exclusive coastal enclave of Sotogrande and the Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2025
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Laura Koval, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The other exclusive enclave, the 8,000-square-foot Loft Suite, faces the stern and unfolds across two decks, offering three bedrooms, a living room, dining for eight, a full kitchen, and outdoor terraces.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025
Five months prior, Majd had left the enclave through Egypt with his mother, Islam Felfel, his younger brother, Nader, 10, and his sister, Rahaf, 7, during a ceasefire.
—Christina MacFarlane, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
The 225-room resort boasts a prime setting on Spain’s Costa del Sol, near the exclusive coastal enclave of Sotogrande and the Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enclave
Cite this Entry
“Enclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enclave. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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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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