Showing results for "fencing"

• present participle of fence.

fencing

American  

[fen-sing] / ˈfɛn sɪŋ /

noun

• fencings
  plural

1. the art, practice, or sport in which an épée, foil, or saber is used for defense and attack.

2. a parrying of arguments; avoidance of direct answers.

   political fencing on important issues.

3. an enclosure or railing.

4. fences collectively.

5. material for fences.

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fencing British  

/ ˈfɛnsɪŋ /

noun

1. 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

2. 1. wire, stakes, etc, used as fences

   2. fences collectively

3. skilful or witty debate

4. the avoidance of direct answers; evasiveness

5. slang the business of buying and selling stolen property

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fencings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fencing

1425–75; late Middle English fensing safeguarding, maintenance. See fence, -ing ¹

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fencing fencings

Curb-edge fencing can stop foot traffic dashing across a six-lane-wide arterial, and so can pedestrian bridges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Picard is a man given to philosophical debates and genteel pursuits like horseback riding and fencing.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

"The acquisition of The Turf is a continuation of the strategy to protect the future of the club and its interests by ring fencing key areas related to the life of the club."

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Olympic trials and was recruited to Northwestern University’s Division I fencing team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

It was originally a male-only sport; women’s fencing was not introduced into the Olympic Games until the 1924 games in Paris.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

As Pascal to Escobar, so is Palestrina to Master Hugues; quibbles, shams, fencings with truth, overlay God’s gold with the cobwebs of tradition, and must be brushed away.

From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Edward Berdoe

Ha! ha! my dearest," thought he, "I knew, notwithstanding all your beautiful startings and fencings, that matters would come to this.

From The Black Prophet: A Tale Of Irish Famine Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three by William Carleton

A great new boon to the home gardener they are, these wire fencings and nettings.

From The Amateur Garden by George Washington Cable

Which infinitely quickens the shadowy rumorings and Diplomatic fencings of mankind.

From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 11 by Thomas Carlyle

His blockings, hedgings, and fencings have spoiled the expanse of hillside and vale in much the same manner as in Albion.

From The Cathedrals of Southern France by M. F. (Milburg Francisco) Mansfield

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