enclave

noun

en·​clave ˈen-ˌklāv  ˈän-ˌklāv 

: 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 protests have drawn Jewish and Muslim students and others from a variety of backgrounds, many of them angered by the death toll in Gaza which has topped 33,000, according to health officials in the enclave. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024

Gazans fleeing combat and bombardment from elsewhere in the enclave have created a sprawling tent city running from Rafah to the Mediterranean seafront — a formerly empty quarter lacking electricity and water and sewer lines. —Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

Since Hamas won Palestinian elections in Gaza in 2006 and ousted a rival faction from the enclave a year later, the group ceded many of its civil responsibilities to UNRWA. —Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

One of the biggest battles over Colorado River water is being staged in one of the West’s smallest rural enclaves. —Maanvi Singh, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024

More than 33,000 people have been killed and 76,000 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. —Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

The announcement came hours after US President Joe Biden pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow more aid into the enclave. —Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

Other changes would include repairing water supply lines in the enclave, and creating a more effective mechanism to ensure military activities don't endanger aid workers. —Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024

For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave. —Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from enclaver to enclose, from Vulgar Latin *inclavare to lock up, from Latin in- + clavis key — more at clavicle

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

enclave

noun

en·​clave ˈen-ˌklāv  ˈän- 

ˈäŋ-

: a distinct territorial, cultural, or social group within a foreign region or community

Etymology

from French enclave "enclave," derived from early French enclaver "to enclose"

Medical Definition

enclave

noun

en·​clave ˈen-ˌklāv; ˈän-ˌklāv  ˈäŋ- 

-ˌkläv

: something enclosed in an organ or tissue but not a continuous part of it