: 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
Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the enclave laid to waste and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its population displaced.
—
Maayan Lubell and Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Reports of injuries had earlier begun to filter out from the front lines of the Palisades Fire, which has destroyed many parts of its namesake enclave, including portions of Palisades Village and, up the coast a bit, The Reel Inn and Topanga Ranch Motel on PCH at Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025
Yet even lifelong residents were shocked at the speed and scale of the blazes that erupted on Tuesday, first in the tony coastal enclave of Pacific Palisades; then in Eaton Canyon, near Altadena; and to the north, around the area of Sylmar.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025
Nashville homebuyers are embracing more affordable enclaves in the city as prices continue to skyrocket.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for enclave 
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.
Maayan Lubell and Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Reports of injuries had earlier begun to filter out from the front lines of the Palisades Fire, which has destroyed many parts of its namesake enclave, including portions of Palisades Village and, up the coast a bit, The Reel Inn and Topanga Ranch Motel on PCH at Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025
Yet even lifelong residents were shocked at the speed and scale of the blazes that erupted on Tuesday, first in the tony coastal enclave of Pacific Palisades; then in Eaton Canyon, near Altadena; and to the north, around the area of Sylmar.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025
Nashville homebuyers are embracing more affordable enclaves in the city as prices continue to skyrocket.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for enclave
Dictionary Entries Near enclave
Cite this Entry
“Enclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enclave. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share