fencer

American  

[fen-ser] / ˈfɛn sər /

noun

1. a person who practices the art of fencing with a sword, foil, etc.

2. a person who fences.

3. a horse trained to jump barriers, as for show or sport.

4. Australian. a person who builds or repairs fences.

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fencer British  

/ ˈfɛnsə /

noun

1. a person who fights with a sword, esp one who practises the art of fencing

2. a person who erects and repairs fences

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Etymology

Origin of fencer

First recorded in 1565–75; fence + -er ¹

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Explanation

A fencer is someone who participates in the sport of fencing, or sword fighting. Fencers are among the athletes who compete in the Olympics every four years. If you become a fencer, you'll learn all the rules and strategy behind dueling with rapiers or swords. Fencers wear special gear, including protective jackets, short pants, gloves, and masks. The word fencer comes from the verb fence, "defend oneself," from the noun fence, "fortification," a shortened form of defense.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fencer

With Madonna to his right and Rihanna on his left, the London-born American fencer was the unexpected filling in a pop royalty sandwich.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

Saber fencer Eli Dershwitz is among the many United States athletes that struggle to keep up with rising costs associated with being an Olympic athlete.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2025

Mattel has recreated a host of sporting figures as Barbie dolls, including American Olympic champion gymnast Gabby Douglas, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, snowboarder Chloe Kim and golfer Lorena Ochoa.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025

The fencer competed at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and at Tokyo in 2021.

From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024

Now that I was going to wear red, white, and blue in competitions, I felt even more pressure to elevate my skills and become the best fencer I could.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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