: 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
Like other seaside enclaves, Dongsha was founded as a trading post and, in turn, became a venue for cross-cultural exchange.
—
Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2025
Privacy like nowhere else Few properties can claim their own enclave entirely, untouched by neighbors and insulated by evergreens, like this one does.
—Sacbee.com, 22 Nov. 2025
Facebook Moms' groups in the city's wealthiest enclaves like the Upper East Side are full of nervous posts about the city's fate.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
The boundary splits the enclave in two, leaving the border zone under Israeli military control while the area beyond it is meant to serve as a safe zone.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
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Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2025
Privacy like nowhere else Few properties can claim their own enclave entirely, untouched by neighbors and insulated by evergreens, like this one does.
—Sacbee.com, 22 Nov. 2025
Facebook Moms' groups in the city's wealthiest enclaves like the Upper East Side are full of nervous posts about the city's fate.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
The boundary splits the enclave in two, leaving the border zone under Israeli military control while the area beyond it is meant to serve as a safe zone.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 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 Dec. 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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