fence

American  

[fens] / fɛns /

noun

1. a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of vertical posts connected with horizontal sections of sturdy material or materials, as wood, metal, vinyl, or wire, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.

   Our garden fence is not high enough to keep the deer out.

2. Informal. a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.

3. the place of business of such a person.

4. the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.

5. skill in argument, repartee, etc.

6. Machinery. a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.

7. Carpentry. a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.

8. Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.

---

verb (used with object)

fences, present (3rd person singular) fenced, past participle, past fencing present participle

1. to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession.

   to fence a farm.

2. to separate by or as by a fence or fences (often followed by in, off, out, etc.).

   to fence off a corner of one's yard; to fence out unwholesome influences.

3. to defend; protect; guard.

   The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.

4. to ward off; keep out.

5. Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.

6. Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.

verb (used without object)

fences, present (3rd person singular) fenced, past participle, past fencing present participle

1. to practice the art or sport of fencing.

2. to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge.

   The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.

3. (of a horse) to leap over a fence.

4. Obsolete. to raise a defense.

idioms

1. mend one's fences, to strengthen or reestablish one's position by conciliation or negotiation.

   One could tell by his superficially deferential manner that he was trying to mend his fences.

2. on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided.

   The party leaders are still on the fence.

fence British  

/ fɛns /

noun

1. a structure that serves to enclose an area such as a garden or field, usually made of posts of timber, concrete, or metal connected by wire, netting, rails, or boards

2. slang a dealer in stolen property

3. an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping

4. machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane

5. a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips

6. 1. to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics

   2. to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)

7. unable or unwilling to commit oneself

8. informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust

9. to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself

---

verb

1. (tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)

2. (tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence

   he fenced in the livestock

3. (intr) to fight using swords or foils

4. (intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points

5. (intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc

6. slang (intr) to receive stolen property

7. archaic (tr) to ward off or keep out

fence More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing fence

• mend one's fences
• on the fence
• straddle the fence

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fenceless
  adjective
• outfence
  verb (used with object)
• well-fenced
  adjective
• unfence
  verb (used with object)
• fencelike
  adjective
• refence
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have fenced
  perfect
• has fenced
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been fencing
  perfect progressive
• has been fencing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is fencing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• fencing
  participle
• fences
  singular 3rd person
• am fencing
  progressive 1st person singular
• are fencing
  progressive

Past

• had fenced
  perfect
• was fencing
  progressive singular
• were fencing
  progressive plural
• fenced
  simple
• fenced
  participle
• had been fencing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will fence
  simple
• will have fenced
  perfect
• will have been fencing
  perfect progressive
• will be fencing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of fence

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fens, shortening of defens “(means of) fortification, resistance, defense”; see origin at defense

Explanation

A fence is a usually wooden or metal structure that encloses a yard, pasture, or other area. Many people with back yard swimming pools put fences around them to make sure small children don't fall in. The difference between a fence and a wall is that you can almost always see through a fence, at least to some degree, while a wall is solid. You can use fence as a verb too: "I think I'll fence my yard in, because my chickens keep wandering off." If someone calls you a fence, though, they mean you're selling stolen goods, and if you fence professionally, you participate in the sword fighting sport of fencing.

Example Sentences

As a result, Barb Fence Co. gave its founders both riches and a historical legacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Natalie Johnston was scrolling on Facebook a couple of years ago, when she came across a group called, "One And Done On The Fence".

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

Fence lizards choose conspicuous basking places, such as tree trunks, rocks ... and fences.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025

Fence line monitoring has long been a priority of the environmental justice movement and a number of refinery communities have won it in recent years.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2023

Bill played trumpet and took vocals on Glenn Miller arrangements of such tunes as In the Mood, String of Pearls, and Don’t Fence Me In.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston

Related Words

• bar
• barbed wire
• barricade
• block
• dike
• net
• rail
• railing
• roadblock
• wall