enclosure

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. something put inside an envelope along with a letter.

n. a document or item inserted into a letter or package alongside the primary correspondence.

“Please check the enclosure for a copy of the signed contract.”

“The solicitor noted the enclosure of the original deed in the cover letter, advising the client to confirm its receipt immediately.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

n. the act of putting a fence or wall around a piece of land.

n. the process or act of surrounding a space with a barrier to restrict access or define boundaries.

“The enclosure of the garden took several days of hard work.”

“The rapid enclosure of the construction site was necessary to ensure public safety before the heavy machinery arrived.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Technical · Formal

n. a private part of a monastery or convent where only the monks or nuns can go.

n. the restricted area of a religious house, such as a convent or monastery, where access is limited to members of the community.

“Visitors are not allowed to enter the inner enclosure of the abbey.”

“The rule of enclosure within the Carmelite order dictates that sisters remain within the designated bounds of the convent to maintain a life of prayer.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic

n. the historical process in England of turning common land into private farms.

n. the historical process of consolidating small landholdings and common land into larger, privately owned farms.

“The enclosure movement changed how people lived in the countryside.”

“Parliamentary enclosure in the eighteenth century led to significant social upheaval as rural labourers lost their traditional rights to graze livestock on common land.”