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

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
The tiger remained in the enclosure following the attack, and there is no wider risk posed to the public, according to authorities. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 The enclosure feels rigid with tight panel gaps and a clean industrial design that avoids looking overly rugged or utilitarian. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 Adding to the complicated opening of the venue, Angel said an activist entered the cafe on Saturday, claimed the animals needed to be free, and opened an enclosure, releasing several capybaras. — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 From September 2025 through August 2026, sales of shower stalls, kits, and enclosures fell 21% at Home Depot and Lowe’s compared to the same period a year earlier, with unit sales down even more sharply, 28%, according to Datavations. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 3 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

See All Rhymes for enclosure

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 14 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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