enclosure

noun

in-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce enclosure (audio)
variants also inclosure
Definition of enclosurenext
as in courtyard
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) a fenced-in enclosure where the sheep are allowed to graze unattended

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of enclosure In the middle of the enclosure for the bullfight of the following day, castles made of straw and oil-lamps that needed to be rekindled over and over again had been collected. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 And if an enclosure isn't tightly secured, your chickens will escape and wander off without any regards for property lines. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026 Video from the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association shows Hennessy trotting into an enclosure, at first a little unsure of herself. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 30 June 2026 At the time, the ranch said the giraffe had likely slipped through an enclosure gate and wandered into surrounding private ranchland. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enclosure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enclosure
  1. courtyard
  2. patio
  3. yard
  4. quadrangle
Noun
  • Prosecutors also presented surveillance footage captured from a distance that Hull testified showed Robinson running across the rooftop of the Losee Center, a building on UVU’s campus near the courtyard where Kirk’s event was taking place.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The ideal time to visit is just before sunset, which is best viewed from the courtyard of Panagia Korfiatissa church.
    — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026
Definition of courtyard
Noun
  • Trying new decor trends is fun, but designers believe choosing timeless base pieces is still the best way to approach patio—and any other—design.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 July 2026
  • Veteran rave promoters envision Origin as a 1,000-capacity, Blade Runner–style warehouse with modular patio stages, offering daytime community events that transition into intimate Afro-house and hard-rave nights.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of patio
Noun
  • Drafted as a running back, Hawthorne served mainly as a backup, amassing 527 career rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
    — Jim Barnes July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
  • No Sacramento defender followed, so Amang hit Moon with the give-and-go pass into the 18-yard box.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 12 July 2026
Definition of yard
Noun
  • This spring, across the nation’s auditoriums and quadrangles, members of the class of 2026 took their seats to receive remarks from distinguished guests.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • The bedroom, on a corner of the building, was the shape of an irregular quadrangle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Definition of quadrangle

Browse Nearby Words

enclosing
enclosure
enclosures
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Cite this Entry

“Enclosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enclosure. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on enclosure

Nglish: Translation of enclosure for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about enclosure

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