Enclave
[AHN-kleyv]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: French, mid-19th century
1.
A portion of territory within or surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct.
2.
A place or group that is different in character from those surrounding it.
Examples of Enclave in a sentence
"The large influx of immigrants to the city created a distinct neighborhood enclave for each nationality."
"The remaining Victorian homes on the street created a quiet, historical enclave."
About Enclave
An enclave is a territory that is surrounded by another territory. An enclave can occur when parcels of land are sold, as a matter of a border dispute, or even through war. As the borders change, so can language. In India, "pocket" is synonymous for enclave, and you'll find references to detachments and peculiars in some British enclaves.
Did you Know?
Enclave comes from the French verb "enclaver," which means to enclose, but this comes from the Latin "clavis," meaning key. If you look at a map of Vatican City, an enclave within the Italian city of Rome, you might recognize that it fits as nicely as a key in a lock.
