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

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

“Nothing compares to this, no, absolutely not,” American fencer Lee Kiefer said after winning gold in the women’s foil.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2024

At Rio 2016, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad made headlines when she became the first American to compete at the Olympics while wearing a headscarf.

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2024

Weber, a Long Island native who went to the University of Pennsylvania, was a world-class fencer, said Jeff Salmon, who knew him from the time they were boys through various fencing competitions.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2023

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