enclosure
gb/ɪŋklˈoʊʒɚ/ us/ɪŋklˈoʊʒɚ/
B1
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
fenced or walled-in area
An area that is closed in by a fence or wall, often for animals or for safety.
Usage pattern:
[someone] builds an enclosure for [animals/things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "cage" instead of "enclosure". A "cage" is usually small and made of bars or wire, often for birds or small animals. An "enclosure" can be large and may use fences, walls, or glass, for both animals and people.
Synonyms
pen (Usually a smaller, simple enclosure for farm animals; more informal and specific than the general term "enclosure".)
Antonyms
open field (Emphasizes a space without fences or walls, the opposite of a closed-in enclosure.)
Collocations
animal enclosure
|zoo enclosure
|secure enclosure
|outdoor enclosure
|garden enclosure
|play enclosure
Themes
animals
|nature
|daily life
|housing
Examples
- The lions lay in the shade at the back of their enclosure.
- Children can play safely in the fenced enclosure near the café.
- Workers repaired the broken gate on the deer enclosure before the park opened.
- Each species at the wildlife reserve has a separate enclosure designed to match its natural habitat.
Learner examples
- The horses are in a large enclosure.
- They built an enclosure to keep the dogs in the yard.
- At the zoo, we stood near the monkey enclosure.
- The babies played in a small enclosure in the living room.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
document included with a letter
Something sent in the same envelope or package as a letter, like another paper, photo, or form.
Usage pattern:
[letter] includes an enclosure
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "enclosure" for digital emails. For email, "attachment" is more natural. Also, some learners confuse the word with "closure" (end of something); these are not related in meaning.
Synonyms
attachment (More common for email and digital files; "enclosure" is typically used for physical mail.)
Antonyms
main letter (Refers to the central written message, which the enclosure is separate from and added to.)
Collocations
please see the enclosure
|list of enclosures
|letter and enclosure
|signed form as an enclosure
|enclosure notation
|return the completed enclosure
Themes
business
|communication
Examples
- Please sign and return the enclosure with the completed form.
- For details of your policy, refer to the brochure in the enclosure.
- The letter mentioned three enclosures, but only two were in the envelope.
- She forgot to add the payment slip as an enclosure before mailing the letter.
Learner examples
- Please read the enclosure with this letter.
- The bill is in the enclosure.
- He sent a photo as an enclosure with the card.
- The teacher added a map as an enclosure to the letter to parents.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
protective housing or case
A hard cover or box around a machine or device to protect it or keep sound or dust inside.
Usage pattern:
[device] is housed in an enclosure
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is only for land areas or animals. In technical and product descriptions, "enclosure" often means the hard outer case of a device, similar to a "box" or "housing".
Synonyms
housing (Very common technical term in engineering; often interchangeable, but "housing" is slightly more specialized jargon.)
Antonyms
exposed (Describes parts that are not covered by any enclosure, leaving them open to damage or contact.)
Collocations
protective enclosure
|plastic enclosure
|metal enclosure
|waterproof enclosure
|speaker enclosure
|acoustic enclosure
Themes
technology
|manufacturing
|science
Examples
- All the electrical components are mounted in a sealed metal enclosure.
- The pump is placed in a soundproof enclosure to reduce noise in the lab.
- A transparent plastic enclosure protects the sensors from dust and moisture.
- The designer chose a compact enclosure to fit the device under the desk.
Learner examples
- The small computer is in a metal enclosure.
- A clear enclosure keeps dust away from the machine.
- They put the loud generator in an enclosure to make it quieter.
- The camera sits inside a waterproof enclosure.
Noun
B2
action
4
act of enclosing something
The action of putting a fence, wall, or other limit around something so it is closed in.
Usage pattern:
[someone] completes the enclosure of [area/object]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only the verb "close" when they mean creating a physical boundary. "Enclosure" (the noun) refers more specifically to building or having walls or fences around something.
Synonyms
surrounding (A more general term; "enclosure" usually involves a more complete or intentional boundary.)
Antonyms
opening (Refers to removing or not having boundaries, the opposite process of creating an enclosure.)
Collocations
enclosure of the area
|glass enclosure of the balcony
|rapid enclosure of the site
|enclosure of the playground
|partial enclosure
|complete enclosure
Themes
construction
|architecture
|core_vocabulary
|housing
Examples
- The project involves the enclosure of the courtyard with glass walls.
- Rapid enclosure of green spaces has changed the character of the town.
- The partial enclosure of the terrace makes it usable in colder weather.
- Enclosure of the area will be completed once the final wall is built.
Learner examples
- The enclosure of the garden took three days.
- They planned the enclosure of the playground with a high fence.
- The balcony’s enclosure keeps the wind out.
- The enclosure of the space made it feel smaller.
Noun
technical
C1
event
5
historical fencing of common land
A historical process, especially in Britain, when land that many people used together was fenced and became private land for only one owner.
Usage pattern:
the enclosure of [common land/fields]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this specific historical meaning with the general physical meaning of building a fence. In history texts, capitalized "Enclosure" often refers to this particular legal and economic process, not just putting up a fence.
Synonyms
land privatization (Broader and more modern term; "enclosure" refers specifically to a historical process involving fences and legal acts.)
Antonyms
common land (Refers to land shared by a community, which enclosure historically turned into private property.)
Collocations
the Enclosure Acts
|the Enclosure movement
|land enclosure
|enclosure of common land
|parliamentary enclosure
|enclosure of the open fields
Themes
history
|politics
|law
Examples
- The enclosure of common land in the eighteenth century forced many rural families to move to the cities.
- Historians debate how enclosure affected agricultural productivity and social inequality.
- The Enclosure Acts greatly accelerated the enclosure of open fields across England.
- Enclosure changed traditional village life by limiting access to shared grazing areas.
Learner examples
- Enclosure in Britain made shared land private.
- Many farmers lost access to fields because of enclosure.
- The Enclosure Acts helped landowners but hurt poor people.
- Enclosure is an important topic in British history classes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
enclosure
IPA
GB/ɪŋklˈoʊʒɚ/
US/ɪŋklˈoʊʒɚ/
Syllables & stress
en - clos - ure (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (clos)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: enclosure
- Plural: enclosure, enclosures
Word family
Forms
enclosures
noun
Core family
enclose
verb B1
enclosed
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unenclosed
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.