: 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
Remote workers are concentrated in two enclaves here: Laureles near the city’s central area and El Poblado in the south.
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Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 28 Feb. 2025
The war has laid waste to the crowded coastal enclave and displaced the majority of its population multiple times.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency reported an increase in hepatitis A in the enclave, from 85 cases before the current war to 107,000 cases in October 2024.
—Lesley Joseph, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025
Where to Eat and Drink The Barbary One of my favorite restaurants, nestled inside an adorable enclave by Seven Dials in Covent Garden.
—Vogue, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enclave
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Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 28 Feb. 2025
The war has laid waste to the crowded coastal enclave and displaced the majority of its population multiple times.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency reported an increase in hepatitis A in the enclave, from 85 cases before the current war to 107,000 cases in October 2024.
—Lesley Joseph, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025
Where to Eat and Drink The Barbary One of my favorite restaurants, nestled inside an adorable enclave by Seven Dials in Covent Garden.
—Vogue, 22 Feb. 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 10 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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