Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:17:21 EDT
Enclave Versus Exclave
- Enclave
- The noun enclave names a territory surrounded by an alien entity. Three nations are enclaves: Lesotho, San Marino, and Vatican City. Lesotho is enclaved by South Africa. San Marino and Vatican City are enclaved by Italy. Enclave is French and ultimately derives from the Late Latin verb inclavare, which means to fix with nails, to lock-in, or to lame. inclavare derives from clavis, which means key.
- Exclave
- The noun exclave names a territory that is part of an entity that is separated from the territory by an alien entity. If the territory is surrounded by one alien entity, the territory is both an enclave and an exclave. Kaliningrad is an exclave of Russia. Alaska is an exclave of the USA. Exclave is a 19th century adaptation of enclave. The ex prefix derives from the Latin ex, which means outside of.