noun
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the practice, art, or sport of fighting with swords, esp the sport of using foils, épées, or sabres under a set of rules to score points
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wire, stakes, etc, used as fences
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fences collectively
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skilful or witty debate
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the avoidance of direct answers; evasiveness
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slang the business of buying and selling stolen property
Etymology
Origin of fencing
1425–75; late Middle English fensing safeguarding, maintenance. See fence, -ing 1
Explanation
Fencing is a structure that encloses a yard or area, like the fencing that keeps your dog confined. Another kind of fencing is a sport with long pointy foils that has been popular with Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, and lots of other fancy kids. You might buy enough fencing to close in your whole back yard — it could be made of wood, metal, or even plastic, and this material can also be called fencing. A completely different kind of fencing is the sport that involves combat with sword-like weapons. Fencing started as military training and a way of settling disputes, but it grew into a sport during the 18th century, and is now even included in the Olympics.
Vocabulary lists containing fencing
Down on the Farm
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 15–October 21, 2022
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The Shakespeare Stealer
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Trees would also be allowed, but would need to be trimmed away from walls and roofs, and residents could install only noncombustible fencing against the house.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026
His father held all kinds of jobs, often at the same time: He was a warehouse foreman, ran a fencing company and unloaded box cars.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
"Unfortunately, you do have to ruffle some feathers to really make a massive change in the sport, especially one like fencing that is so traditional," says Chamley-Watson.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
His hope is for the competition to take the sport mainstream so that "boys, girls, brown, black, anyone from all walks of life" are inspired to try fencing.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Like there was a fencing strip between us, me and Trey face off with Alan.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
