: 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
This disheartening reality augurs a future in which the prosperity of a few affluent enclaves depends in part on the rest of the globe becoming ever more nasty, brutish, and hot.
—
Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Trump shares warm relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has repeatedly suggested displacing Palestinians from Gaza and having the United States take ownership of the enclave and rebuild it.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
The first phase of the ceasefire ended last week, and Israel has since imposed a total blockade on all goods entering the enclave, demanding that Hamas free remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the Gaza war.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Israel's assault on the enclave has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
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Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Trump shares warm relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has repeatedly suggested displacing Palestinians from Gaza and having the United States take ownership of the enclave and rebuild it.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
The first phase of the ceasefire ended last week, and Israel has since imposed a total blockade on all goods entering the enclave, demanding that Hamas free remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the Gaza war.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Israel's assault on the enclave has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 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 28 Mar. 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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