fence
Americannoun
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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.
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Informal. a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
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the place of business of such a person.
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the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
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skill in argument, repartee, etc.
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Machinery. a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
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Carpentry. a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
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Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.
verb (used with object)
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to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession.
to fence a farm.
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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.
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to defend; protect; guard.
The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
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to ward off; keep out.
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Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
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Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
verb (used without object)
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to practice the art or sport of fencing.
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to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge.
The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
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(of a horse) to leap over a fence.
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Obsolete. to raise a defense.
idioms
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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.
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on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided.
The party leaders are still on the fence.
noun
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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
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slang a dealer in stolen property
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an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
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machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
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a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
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to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics
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to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)
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unable or unwilling to commit oneself
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informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust
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to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself
verb
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(tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
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(tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fence
he fenced in the livestock
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(intr) to fight using swords or foils
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(intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
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(intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
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slang (intr) to receive stolen property
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archaic (tr) to ward off or keep out
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing fence
"The History Teacher" by Billy Collins
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"Saying Yes" and "A Lion Hunt"
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Unit 9
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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.
As a result, Barb Fence Co. gave its founders both riches and a historical legacy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
Fence lizards choose conspicuous basking places, such as tree trunks, rocks ... and fences.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025
Fence posts may become loose in wet weather, giving foxes or badgers an easy target to dig at.
From BBC • Jan. 3, 2025
And is the Willie Nelson and Leon Russell duet of “Don’t Fence Me In” perhaps sung from Bambi’s perspective?
From Seattle Times • Jul. 25, 2023
He didn’t sing Don’t Fence Me In out of protest, as if trying quietly to mock the authorities.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
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.
