enclave Meaning & Definition
What Does Enclave Mean?
As a noun, enclave means a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as if within foreign territory.
Enclave: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈen-ˌklāv/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Plural | enclaves |
| First known use | 1868 |
Enclave Definition (Noun)
- a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as if within foreign territory
ethnic enclaves
Synonyms of Enclave
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Enclave synonyms and antonyms →Enclave in a Sentence
The Republic of San Marino is an enclave of Italy.
The streets around Union Square form a Protestant enclave within an otherwise Catholic neighbourhood.
ethnic enclaves
The city has a large Chinese enclave.
one of the city's wealthy enclaves
Word Forms & Grammar
enclave
enclaves
enclave (plural enclaves)
enclave (third-person singular simple present enclaves, present participle enclaving, simple past and past participle enclaved)
Words That Rhyme With Enclave
Origin of Enclave
Origin 1: French, from Middle French, from enclaver to enclose, from Vulgar Latin *inclavare to lock up, from Latin in- + clavis key clavicle
Origin 2: Borrowed from French enclave, from Middle French enclave (“enclave”), deverbal of enclaver (“to inclose”), from Old French enclaver (“to inclose, lock in”), from Vulgar Latin *inclāvāre (“to lock in”), from in + Latin clavis (“key”) or clavus (“nail, bolt”). Compare inlock.
First Known Use
1868
How to Pronounce Enclave
Enclave is pronounced /ˈen-ˌklāv/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (en).