fence
fehns
Fence (noun) means a barrier, usually made of wood, metal, or wire, marking a boundary or enclosing an area. Example: “A low metal fence runs along the edge of the playground.”
noun
1
A barrier, usually made of wood, metal, or wire, marking a boundary or enclosing an area.
"A low metal fence runs along the edge of the playground."
"The dog squeezed under the fence and ran into the neighbour's garden."
"They put up a wooden fence around the garden."
2
A person who buys and resells stolen goods.
"Police believe the stolen watches were passed to a fence in the next town."
"He earned a living as a fence, buying goods he knew were stolen."
"The thief sold the jewelry to a fence he knew downtown."
verb
1
To enclose land with a fence.
"We need to fence the back garden before the puppy arrives."
"The farmer fenced the new pasture with wire and sturdy wooden posts."
"They fenced off the field to keep the sheep in."
2
To compete in the sport of fencing, fighting with swords.
"He fences twice a week at the sports hall near his house."
"We watched two students fence in white masks and padded jackets."
"She fenced competitively all through university."
3
To give evasive or deliberately vague answers to avoid a direct question.
"When asked about the missing money, the manager fenced and changed the subject."
"Stop fencing and tell me plainly whether you broke the window."
"The senator fenced with reporters for twenty minutes without answering."
How to use fence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a physical barrier around property; also a criminal who trades in stolen goods, or the sport of sword-fighting.
Common pairings
sit on the fence
mend fences
fence stolen goods
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Word forms
- Plural
- fences
- Third person singular
- fences
- Past tense
- fenced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A low metal _____ runs along the edge of the playground.
Etymology
A shortening of Middle English "defence" — a fence is, at root, simply a thing that defends or encloses.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fence
See all rhymes for fence →Frequently asked questions
What does “fence” mean?
The word “fence” means a barrier, usually made of wood, metal, or wire, marking a boundary or enclosing an area. In plain terms, most often a physical barrier around property; also a criminal who trades in stolen goods, or the sport of sword-fighting.
How do you pronounce “fence”?
“Fence” is pronounced fehns (/fɛns/ in IPA).
How do you use “fence” in a sentence?
Here is “fence” used in a sentence: “They put up a wooden fence around the garden.”
What part of speech is “fence”?
Depending on how it is used, “fence” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fence” come from?
The word “fence” comes from Middle English. A shortening of Middle English "defence" — a fence is, at root, simply a thing that defends or encloses.
Is “fence” a common word?
“Fence” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “fence” have?
“Fence” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a barrier, usually made of wood, metal, or wire, marking a boundary or enclosing an area.
What is the difference between a "fence" and a "wall"?
A fence is usually a lighter barrier of wood, metal, or wire that marks a boundary or encloses an area, while a wall is a solid, continuous structure of brick, stone, or concrete. Fences are often partly see-through, whereas walls are solid.
What is the difference between a "fence" and a "hedge"?
A fence is a constructed barrier of wood, metal, or wire, while a hedge is a living boundary formed by closely planted shrubs or bushes. Both mark or enclose an area, but a hedge is made of plants.
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