saber

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ber ˈsā-bər How to pronounce saber (audio)
variants or chiefly British sabre
1
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade, thick back, and guard
2
a
: a light fencing or dueling sword having an arched guard that covers the back of the hand and a tapering flexible blade with a full cutting edge along one side and a partial cutting edge on the back at the tip compare épée, foil entry 4
b
: the sport of fencing with the saber

Illustration of saber

Illustration of saber
  • saber 1

saber

2 of 2

verb

variants or chiefly British sabre
sabered or sabred; sabering or sabring ˈsā-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce saber (audio)

transitive verb

: to strike, cut, or kill with a saber

Examples of saber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The flame-wielder is a tough match for Mecha Man, necessitating some extrajudicial aggression as Robert lops off two of his opponent’s fingers with a beam saber. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025 The event includes a steak and egg breakfast and cutting of a cake in a ceremony with the oldest and youngest Marine in attendance using a saber. Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025 Techno-futuristic visuals, dancers with blue light sabers and pyrotechnics introduced speakers — ranging from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and soccer star Lionel Messi to billionaire Jeff Bezos, set to speak on Thursday. Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025 And a sellout crowd in Fort Fun seeing Timmy Chang’s Rainbow Warriors up close only made the contrasts sharper — like the edge of a cavalry saber. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for saber

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sabre, modification of German dialect Sabel, from Middle High German, probably of Slav origin; akin to Russian sablya saber

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saber was in 1680

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saber. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

saber

noun
sa·​ber
variants or sabre
ˈsā-bər
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade

More from Merriam-Webster on saber

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