fencing

American  

[fen-sing] / ˈfɛn sɪŋ /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of fencing

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

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

Trees would also be allowed, but would need to be trimmed away from walls and roofs, and residents could install only noncombustible fencing against the house.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

His father held all kinds of jobs, often at the same time: He was a warehouse foreman, ran a fencing company and unloaded box cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Employing modified scoring and new AI blade-tracking technology to allow viewers to see the swords' rapid movements, the aim is to make fencing "shorter, easier to understand and more visually appealing".

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Residents would have to replace the first five feet of any combustible fencing or gates attached to their house with something made out of a noncombustible material, such as metal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

I didn’t have any role models to look up to who looked like me in fencing, and there weren’t any other Muslim women wearing hijab at the elite levels of sport to inspire my quest.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad