enclosure

1 of 2

noun

en·​clo·​sure in-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce enclosure (audio)
en-
variants or less commonly inclosure
in-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce enclosure (audio)
Synonyms of enclosurenext
1
: the act or action of enclosing : the quality or state of being enclosed
2
: something that encloses
3
: something enclosed
a letter with two enclosures

inclose, inclosure

2 of 2
in·​close in-ˈklōz How to pronounce inclose (audio)

less common variants of enclose, enclosure

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to close in : surround
enclose a porch with glass
(2)
: to fence off (common land) for individual use
b
: to hold in : confine
2
: to include along with something else in a parcel or envelope
a check is enclosed herewith

Synonyms of enclosure

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Noun

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Examples of enclosure in a Sentence

Noun During the day the horses are kept in an enclosure. a letter with two enclosures One of the enclosures was a photograph. the enclosure of a photograph with a letter the enclosure of the garden
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Kiley said Friday that one of his staff members opened an envelope containing the substance and immediately placed it in a quarantine enclosure designed for such an incident. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 And after Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl died in 2024, dozens of mournful fans gathered to say goodbye to the beloved creature who flew around Manhattan and became a joy to many after someone let him out of his zoo enclosure the previous year. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 After Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl died in 2024, dozens of mournful fans gathered to say goodbye to the beloved creature who flew around Manhattan and became a joy to many after someone let him out of his zoo enclosure the previous year. — Joseph B. Frederick, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 In 2023, a cut in the protective netting around an enclosure in the Central Park Zoo allowed a Eurasian eagle-owl to escape into the park. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enclosure

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enclosure was in the 15th century

Rhymes for enclosure

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Browse Nearby Words

encloser
enclosure
enclosure wall
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enclosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enclosure. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

enclosure

noun
en·​clo·​sure
variants also inclosure
in-ˈklō-zhər
1
: the act of enclosing : the state of being enclosed
2
: an enclosed space
3
: something (as a fence) that encloses
4
: something enclosed
a letter with two enclosures

More from Merriam-Webster on enclosure

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about enclosure

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