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. 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

Israeli troops have continued clearing northern Gaza of inhabitants, calling for mass evacuations that many rights groups contend are a prelude to Israel’s occupation of parts of the enclave.

From Los Angeles Times

However, it mostly threatened Santa Paula and didn’t reach more urban enclaves.

From Los Angeles Times

Estonia and Latvia share land borders with Russia, while Lithuania is adjacent to the Russian enclave Kaliningrad, which also shares a border with Poland, and Moscow's close ally, Belarus.

From BBC

Exhibit A: this sidewalk-free enclave where people once, presumably, moved about without vehicular assistance, but no longer seem to.

From Los Angeles Times

Dreyfuss lives in Piedmont, a small wealthy enclave of trees and mansions that is surrounded by the city of Oakland.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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