: 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
Loading your audio article OAKLAND — The recall targeting Alameda County’s top prosecutor resulted in success Tuesday night, potentially striking a blow to progressivism in the criminal justice system across in one of California’s bluest enclaves.
—
Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Dreyfuss lives in Piedmont, a small wealthy enclave of trees and mansions that is surrounded by the city of Oakland.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
More than 43,000 people have been killed in the Israeli military's yearlong assault on the enclave, according to local officials, launched after Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack in which Israeli officials say 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were kidnapped.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
The hospitality garages rise to a new echelon within the exclusive enclave of clubs and suites, offering every VIP experience in one ticket.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
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.
Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Dreyfuss lives in Piedmont, a small wealthy enclave of trees and mansions that is surrounded by the city of Oakland.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
More than 43,000 people have been killed in the Israeli military's yearlong assault on the enclave, according to local officials, launched after Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack in which Israeli officials say 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were kidnapped.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
The hospitality garages rise to a new echelon within the exclusive enclave of clubs and suites, offering every VIP experience in one ticket.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
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 27 Nov. 2024.
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