: 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
Batula, 34, and Wilson, 28, are part of an ensemble cast on the Bravo show, which follows a group of friends sharing a house for the summer in the Hamptons, a wealthy enclave on Long Island, New York.
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Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Go Grocer was made for enclaves like Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
The people killed were the latest fatalities among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Leo made a one-day trip to the Mediterranean enclave, becoming the first pope to visit since Pope Paul III in 1538.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
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Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Go Grocer was made for enclaves like Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
The people killed were the latest fatalities among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Leo made a one-day trip to the Mediterranean enclave, becoming the first pope to visit since Pope Paul III in 1538.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 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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