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• fender
  fender

  noun

  the pressed and formed sheet-metal part mounted over the road wheels of an automobile, bicycle, etc., to reduce the splashing of mud, water, and the like.
• Fender
  Fender

  noun

  a type of solid-body electric guitar

fender

American  

[fen-der] / ˈfɛn dər /

noun

• fenders
  plural

1. the pressed and formed sheet-metal part mounted over the road wheels of an automobile, bicycle, etc., to reduce the splashing of mud, water, and the like.

2. a device on the front of a locomotive, streetcar, or the like, for clearing the track of obstructions.

3. a mudguard or splashboard on a horse-drawn vehicle.

4. Nautical. a piece of timber, bundle of rope, or the like, hung over the side of a vessel to lessen shock or prevent chafing, as between the vessel and a dock or another vessel.

5. a low metal guard before an open fireplace, to keep back falling coals.

6. a person or thing that wards something off.

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fender ¹ British  

/ ˈfɛndə /

noun

1. a low metal frame which confines falling coals to the hearth

2. a metal frame fitted to the front of locomotives to absorb shock, clear the track, etc

3. a cushion-like device, such as a car tyre hung over the side of a vessel to reduce damage resulting from accidental contact or collision

4. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): wing. the part of a car body that surrounds the wheels

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Fender ² British  

/ ˈfɛndə /

noun

1. a type of solid-body electric guitar

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fendered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fenders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fender

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fendour, aphetic variant of defendour defender ( def. )

Explanation

A fender is the part of a car that protects and frames its wheels and keeps mud from splashing it. Most modern vehicles have fenders on their front wheels. When you get into a minor car accident, you can call it a "fender bender," and it's possible that your fenders did get slightly dented. Another kind of fender guards or protects a ship, train, or streetcar; in the case of a train, this is also called a "cowcatcher," and it can actually push debris off the track to keep the train from hitting it. This 13th century word is a shortened form of defender.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fender Fender fenders

And this latest fender bender might be the one that finally illuminates dashboard warning lights for those bosses who have always so hastily turned to Woods in the past.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

The damage included shooting down one of our own fighter jets and a carrier fender bender with a civilian ship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

One car’s wheels have been removed; another sports a mangled fender.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2026

Then, when I departed said strip mall and made a left-hand turn across four lanes of traffic, I hit another car—it was worse than a fender bender, but no one was hurt.

From Slate ● May 12, 2024

All told, that little fender bender cost me four sols.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

His father gave him his first guitar, a white 1964 Fender Stratocaster, trading in a $100 motorcycle to pay for it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Spiritual jazz and psychedelic soul are cornerstones of her sound, along with new-age accouterments like prayer bowls and chimes blended with instruments including Fender Rhodes keyboards and vibraphone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Elsewhere on Friday, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's Rein Me In extended its record as the longest-running number one single in UK chart history.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Or perhaps he’s aware that the heartland rock style he helped pioneer is back in vogue thanks to acts like Sam Fender and the War on Drugs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

“Yes, it was a birthday present from my husband,” Ms. Fender said politely.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

The ships had lowered giant fenders between them to prevent the Catalina 7 from crushing the smaller ship as they rolled in the waves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

But if the bridge is rebuilt with fenders or dolphins to improve safety, no such exemption will apply.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 2, 2024

It also appears the bridge did not have "fenders" - an added layer of protection around a bridge pier - that could have absorbed some of the impact.

From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2024

“Thank heavens for the fenders we have at the Bay Bridge and elsewhere — that protected the Bay Bridge back in 2007.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2024

Cherry red with chrome fenders, chrome hubcaps, and whitewall tires.

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

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