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.
The Zvërnec project is still in the planning phase—the fencing and razor wire have come down—and the developers are working on an environmental-impact statement for authorities to review.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
The sites have been secured, with fencing erected and security and police present to prevent unauthorised access.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Moscatelli uses government funding for public education programs, fencing, and signs encouraging human-capybara coexistence.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
In CPB’s Big Bend Sector project, for example, contractors were ultimately required to install cattle fencing and cattle guards — something Posillico’s lawsuit contends was not what the government originally asked of potential contractors.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
How does a few weeks of fencing compare with a champion’s years?
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.
