enclave

[ en-kleyv, ahn- ]

noun

1. a country, or especially, an outlying portion of a country, entirely or mostly surrounded by the territory of another country.
2. any small, distinct area or group enclosed or isolated within a larger one:

   a Chinese-speaking enclave in London.

verb (used with object)

, en·claved, en·clav·ing.

1. to isolate or enclose (especially territory) within a foreign or uncongenial environment; make an enclave of:

   The desert enclaved the little settlement.

enclave

/ ˈɛnkleɪv /

noun

1. See exclave
   a part of a country entirely surrounded by foreign territory: viewed from the position of the surrounding territories Compare exclave

Word History and Origins

Origin of enclave¹

1865–70; < French, Middle French, noun derivative of enclaver < Vulgar Latin *inclāvāre to lock in, equivalent to Latin in- in- ² + clāv ( is ) key + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of enclave¹

C19: from French, from Old French enclaver to enclose, from Vulgar Latin inclāvāre (unattested) to lock up, from Latin in- ² + clavis key

Example Sentences

Jonathan Conricus, contradicting a statement the night before that a ground assault on the enclave was underway.

From Washington Post

A half century of relentless land alienation and settlement expansion, with Palestinians increasingly concentrated in fragmented enclaves, has largely achieved this aim.

From Time

Even though nearly a third of the new homes would be subsidized, opponents contend that many of those could go to middle-income households, as opposed to low-income, and say it would amount to another enclave for the affluent.

From Washington Post

Outstanding questions remain over what would happen to the three electoral college votes currently afforded to the District when it becomes a smaller federal enclave.

From Washington Post

For science fiction, try “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice, the tale of an Anishinaabe community facing an apocalyptic disaster and the outsiders who intrude and endanger the isolated enclave.

From Washington Post

Congress is now 92 percent Christian, resembling more to a papal enclave than our religiously diverse nation.

From The Daily Beast

Because Boone is a Democratic enclave thanks in part to the college students.

From The Daily Beast

In an ultra-Orthodox enclave of upstate New York, a former student has accused a principal of sex acts.

From The Daily Beast

Bogie and Bacall purchased a $160,000 mansion in Holmby Hills, a posh enclave in Los Angeles, and played house.

From The Daily Beast

Property worth £350m was unoccupied on The Bishops Avenue, an exclusive street in a north London enclave.

From The Daily Beast

Some estates lying to the east of the Jamna and belonging to the United Provinces have recently been added to the enclave.

From Project Gutenberg

The Lado Enclave, however, is governed separately by a special official.

From Project Gutenberg

This tiny "enclave" in French territory presented many advantages over the German Dukedoms.

From Project Gutenberg

These natives—of the Lado Enclave—were gentleman-like folk, and I parleyed long with them upon their affairs.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nile province and the Lado Enclave present splendid and alluring panoramas.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• area
• colony
• country
• district
• field
• land
• nation
• neighborhood
• province
• sector
• state
• street
• terrain
• zone