: 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
Park said prior to these plans, Korean communities across the region celebrated in their own little enclaves.
—
Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to a general election win in the deep blue enclave.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated an idea - also enthusiastically floated by U.S. President Donald Trump - that Palestinians should simply leave the enclave housing more than 2 million people after nearly two years of conflict.
—USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
But while the claim has been getting traction in recent weeks, global leaders have shied from levelling the accusation, even as many have criticized Israel’s role in the enclave’s humanitarian crisis.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
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Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to a general election win in the deep blue enclave.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated an idea - also enthusiastically floated by U.S. President Donald Trump - that Palestinians should simply leave the enclave housing more than 2 million people after nearly two years of conflict.
—USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
But while the claim has been getting traction in recent weeks, global leaders have shied from levelling the accusation, even as many have criticized Israel’s role in the enclave’s humanitarian crisis.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 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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