: 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
This anchor of the shopping/dining/entertainment enclave of Northeast 13th Street became a buzzy eatery (and a brunch fave) when Kimberly Wong, Blaise McMackin and Scott Ojeda opened back in 2018 in a space shared with Warsaw Coffee Co.
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Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
The president will gather officials from dozens of countries in Washington on Thursday to hear a status report on his plan for the enclave, though serious stumbling blocks remain.
—Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Head to Anna’s, which straddles the line between bohemian arts enclave and hipster hangout, and take a tour through a menu of delicious small plates.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
The Fairbanks Ranch Homeowners Association recently welcomed new General Manager Christine Hulka as the board of directors transitioned to a professional management company to run the luxury enclave in Rancho Santa Fe that has been self-managed since the 1980s.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
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Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
The president will gather officials from dozens of countries in Washington on Thursday to hear a status report on his plan for the enclave, though serious stumbling blocks remain.
—Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Head to Anna’s, which straddles the line between bohemian arts enclave and hipster hangout, and take a tour through a menu of delicious small plates.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
The Fairbanks Ranch Homeowners Association recently welcomed new General Manager Christine Hulka as the board of directors transitioned to a professional management company to run the luxury enclave in Rancho Santa Fe that has been self-managed since the 1980s.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 2026.
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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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