razor wire

American  

noun

1. concertina wire.

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razor wire British  

noun

1. strong wire with pieces of sharp metal set across it at close intervals, used to make fences or barriers

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Compare meaning

How does razor-wire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• razor wire vs. barbed wire

Example Sentences

Long ditches lined with coils of razor wire and concrete pyramids known as dragon’s teeth await Russia’s increasingly rare armored attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Once a symbol of cooperation, the 'Friendship Bridge' connecting the two snow-covered banks has been reinforced with rows of razor wire and anti-tank obstacles.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

The razor wire is part of the approach.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

The rooftop overlooks a flimsy fence crowned with razor wire around the compound, and about one mile of farmland between Nir Oz and southern Gaza.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

They’re screaming now, Bernd, then Neumann One, and finally Werner turns to see them waving, and he picks his way along the sand and back up through the lines of razor wire toward the Opel.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr