: 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
Since then, more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say, and large swathes of the enclave have been devastated.
—
James MacKenzie, USA Today, 13 May 2025
The battered, hungry population of Gaza is to be forced into an even smaller part of the narrow enclave.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
Scores more were injured in the bombardments across the strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the enclave, which has been run by Hamas since 2007.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 8 May 2025
As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains.
—Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for enclave
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James MacKenzie, USA Today, 13 May 2025
The battered, hungry population of Gaza is to be forced into an even smaller part of the narrow enclave.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
Scores more were injured in the bombardments across the strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the enclave, which has been run by Hamas since 2007.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 8 May 2025
As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains.
—Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 4 May 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 17 May. 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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