fence

[ fens ]

/ fɛns /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: fence / fenced / fencing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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

the place of business of such a person.

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

skill in argument, repartee, etc.

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

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

Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.

verb (used with object), fenced, fenc·ing.

to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession: to fence a farm.

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.

to defend; protect; guard: The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.

to ward off; keep out.

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

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

verb (used without object), fenced, fenc·ing.

to practice the art or sport of fencing.

to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge: The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.

(of a horse) to leap over a fence.

Obsolete. to raise a defense.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about fence

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.

on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided: The party leaders are still on the fence.

Origin of fence

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

OTHER WORDS FROM fence

fence·like, adjectiveout·fence, verb (used with object), out·fenced, out·fenc·ing.re·fence, verb (used with object), re·fenced, re·fenc·ing.un·fence, verb (used with object), un·fenced, un·fenc·ing.

well-fenced, adjective

Words nearby fence

femto-, femtometer, femur, fen, fenagle, fence, fence in, fence lizard, fence-mending, fence-off, fence post

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fence in a sentence

That means each team faces a lot more uncertainty about whether to buy or sell, especially when it comes to the large middle group of teams on the fence about which strategy is best.
Separating MLB’s Buyers From Sellers At The Weirdest Trade Deadline Ever|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 28, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
We chained ourselves to the fences of Soviet consulates and embassies.
The Failed Hijacking That Remade the Soviet Union|Eromo Egbejule|August 24, 2020|Ozy
About 18 months later, the bull tossed Fisher into the air like an inconvenience and rammed him into the fence.
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will It Succeed?|Dyllan Furness|August 16, 2020|Singularity Hub
NBC 7 reports that the city recently put up a fence to stop the gatherings after getting reports that not all the participants were wearing masks or social distancing.
Morning Report: Rural Districts Still Scrambling to Prepare for Online Learning|Voice of San Diego|August 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego

A gutted ballfield surrounded by a 10-foot chain-link fence is the only space resembling a park in the Sherman Heights neighborhood.
If Your Local Park Sucks, This Is Probably Why|MacKenzie Elmer|July 6, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Strandf could photograph anything from a blind woman to a picket fence and make the image indelible.
The Best Gift Books of 2014|William O’Connor|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have the unique advantage of seeing this from both sides of the fence.
Ferguson Tensions in Black and White|Seth Ferranti|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this point, he became Tom Sawyer, letting his musical compatriots—and the folk tradition—help paint his musical fence.
Digging the Gold in Dylan’s ‘Basement’|Malcolm Jones|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But what about the screams, the salty puddles, and big empty packages of frozen fish lying on the ground outside the fence?
Activists: Moscow Sea Park Is ‘Torturing’ Its Orca Whales|Anna Nemtsova|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Thursday, Leyland fled her home after a photographer snapped her photo from behind her garden fence.
Outed Madeleine McCann Troll Kills Herself. But Millions Live On Online.|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I saw every crook in the fence, every rut in the road, every bush and tree long before we came to it.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Another fence: who would furnish that two hundred and fifty dollars and secure him for the remainder?
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
They stopped, leaning over a jagged fence made of sea-drift, to ask for water.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
I raised my pipe above my head and hurled it against the fence, where it crashed into a score of pieces.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
In 1837 the churchyard had some pleasant walks along the sides, bounded by a low wooden fence, and skirted with trees.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for fence

fence

/ (fɛns) /

noun

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

slang a dealer in stolen property

an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping

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

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

mend one's fences

mainly US and Canadian to restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics
to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)

on the fence unable or unwilling to commit oneself

over the fence Australian and NZ informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust

sit on the fence to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself

verb

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

(tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fencehe fenced in the livestock

(intr) to fight using swords or foils

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

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

(intr) slang to receive stolen property

(tr) archaic to ward off or keep out

Derived forms of fence

fenceless, adjectivefencelike, adjective

Word Origin for fence

C14 fens, shortened from defens defence

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with fence

fence

In addition to the idioms beginning with fence

fence in
fence with

also see:

mend one's fences
on the fence
straddle the fence

fence

Idioms about fence

Origin of fence

OTHER WORDS FROM fence

Words nearby fence

Words related to fence

How to use fence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fence

Derived forms of fence

Word Origin for fence

Other Idioms and Phrases with fence