enclosure

American  

[en-kloh-zher] / ɛnˈkloʊ ʒər /

Also inclosure

noun

1. something that encloses, as a fence or wall.

2. something that is enclosed in or along with something else, as a photograph sent in a letter.

3. an area, such as a plot of ground or an indoor surface, surrounded by a fence, rope, or other barrier.

4. the separation and appropriation of land by means of a fence.

5. an act or instance of enclosing.

6. the state of being enclosed.

7. Roman Catholic Church. the part of a monastery or convent canonically separated or restricted as the living quarters of the religious, which a person may leave only with special permission or gain entrance to by special dispensation.

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enclosure British  

/ ɪnˈkləʊʒə /

noun

1. the act of enclosing or state of being enclosed

2. a region or area enclosed by or as if by a fence

3. 1. the act of appropriating land, esp common land, by putting a hedge or other barrier around it

   2. history such acts as were carried out at various periods in England, esp between the 12th and 14th centuries and finally in the 18th and 19th centuries

4. a fence, wall, etc, that serves to enclose

5. something, esp a supporting document, enclosed within an envelope or wrapper, esp together with a letter

6. a section of a sports ground, racecourse, etc, allotted to certain spectators

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Other Word Forms

• nonenclosure noun
• preenclosure noun
• semienclosure noun

Etymology

Origin of enclosure

First recorded in 1450–1500; enclose + -ure

Explanation

An enclosure is something that closes you in, like a pen or a cage. When a cobra disappeared from an enclosure at the Bronx Zoo, the entire Reptile House had to be shut down until the snake was found. An enclosure can also be something that's included in an envelope with a cover letter of some sort. If you're sending a letter to your literary agent and you’re including a few pages of your latest limericks, you might put "enc." at the bottom of the letter, to indicate that you've included something extra in the envelope — an enclosure.

Example Sentences

The zebra — named Sero — was eventually cornered in a narrow alley, safely tranquilised and returned to his enclosure without any injuries.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

A fenced enclosure was constructed, a pond created and willow planted - and a ditch was "re-wiggled" to restore more natural hydrological flow and habitat complexity.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Officers brought the parrot back to the airport police station where it was "provided with fruit, water and some toys and a comfortable temporary enclosure made from and dog crate and brush handle".

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Reiner made a brief appearance in Los Angeles County Superior Court from inside a clear enclosure, his hair closely cropped and his hands in shackles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

“I set up an enclosure for him in the living room.”

From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold

Related Words

• cage
• courtyard
• pen