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

Iran’s Riyadh attack pierced the tranquility of that leafy enclave, which houses most foreign embassies along with thousands of expats and Saudis, including top business executives, a few ministers and even some royals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 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

Located in lower Laurel Canyon, the three-bedroom estate is tucked away in an exclusive enclave at the base of Mount Olympus.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

She grew up in L.A.’s storied bohemian enclave and music mecca Laurel Canyon — her father, Bob, was a music promoter turned producer, while her mother, Nancy, was a singer and actor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

The carpentry shop remained a success—not only among the small, moneyed enclave of the Protectorate and the famously tightfisted Traders Association.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

Related Words

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