enclave

American  

[en-kleyv, ahn-] / ˈɛn kleɪv, ˈɑn- /

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.

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verb (used with object)

enclaved, enclaving

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

   The desert enclaved the little settlement.

enclave British  

/ ˈɛnkleɪv /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of enclave

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

Compare meaning

How does enclave compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• enclave vs. exclave

Explanation

An enclave is a separate space or group within a larger one. Imagine an enclave as a cave carved out of a big mountain. All of the bears live in the cave or enclave, while the people live on the mountainside. Groups of like people often form an enclave within a country or region. There is probably an enclave of Africans, Cubans, Russians, or other ethnic group in or near your hometown. It isn't usually enclosed, but it's a place where people of the same background gather and live together, such as a Chinatown or a Little Budapest. An enclave of a country may have boundaries, making it clear that it's a distinct part — and sometimes under separate government — from the larger territory it's within.

Example Sentences

Though the affluent enclave that’s located less than 14 miles north of L.A. had the education factor Farr was looking for, the mother of three was fearful it wouldn’t be fulfilling enough in other ways.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

Nob Hill had a reputation as a relatively well-to-do enclave, but here, in its outer reaches, the vacancies were becoming hard to ignore.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Things are patchier in the condo market. Realtor.com reports significant price increases in neighborhoods such as the Financial District-adjacent enclave Jackson Square.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

I met Volodymyr Zelensky in a conference room inside the heavily-guarded government enclave in a well-to-do corner of central Kyiv.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Ernest and Pief motored together over the Bay Bridge and down the peninsula to Neylan’s estate in the woodsy enclave of Atherton.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

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