: 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
The 10th Street Corridor, now a home to many from Latin America, was once filled with enclaves of people from Slovenia, Lithuania and Poland.
—
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
The latter were among the first to respond four years ago when thousands of Haitian-asylum seekers crossed at the U.S.-Mexico border in Del Rio, Texas, an incident that also gave birth to the idea of taking the summit out of traditional Haitian enclaves, Williams said.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
That makes it what experts consider to be an ethnic enclave.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2025
Francis, who died of a stroke on Easter Monday at 88 years old after a weeks-long health battle, has been lying in state since Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, the papal enclave in Rome.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enclave
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.
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
The latter were among the first to respond four years ago when thousands of Haitian-asylum seekers crossed at the U.S.-Mexico border in Del Rio, Texas, an incident that also gave birth to the idea of taking the summit out of traditional Haitian enclaves, Williams said.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
That makes it what experts consider to be an ethnic enclave.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2025
Francis, who died of a stroke on Easter Monday at 88 years old after a weeks-long health battle, has been lying in state since Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, the papal enclave in Rome.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Apr. 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 4 May. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share