fence

1 of 2

noun

ˈfen(t)s 

often attributive

1

archaic : a means of protection : defense

2

a

: a barrier intended to prevent escape or intrusion or to mark a boundary

especially : such a barrier made of posts and wire or boards

b

: an immaterial barrier or boundary line

on the other side of the fence in the argument

3

: fencing sense 1

4

a

: a receiver of stolen goods

b

: a place where stolen goods are bought

fenceless

ˈfen(t)s-ləs 

adjective

fencelessness noun

see also:

on the fence

fence

2 of 2

verb

fenced; fencing

transitive verb

1

a

: to enclose with a fence

b(1)

: to keep in or out with a fence

(2)

: to ward off

2

: to provide a defense for

3

: to sell (stolen property) to a fence

intransitive verb

1

a

: to practice fencing

b(1)

: to use tactics of attack and defense resembling those of fencing

(2)

: to parry arguments by shifting ground

2

archaic : to provide protection

fencer noun

Synonyms of fence

Noun

• wall
• barricade
• barrier

Verb

• protect
• defend
• guard
• shield
• safeguard

Examples of fence in a Sentence

Noun

We put up a fence around our yard.

the only way to prevent motorists from trying to use that unsafe bridge is to put a fence across the road leading to it

Verb

a house with a fenced-in yard

He stole watches and fenced them on the street.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The chase ended when the car plowed through a fence on Sumter Avenue. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

The end result is that, as everyone settles on one side of the parenthood fence or the other, many pick the side with people a lot like themselves. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Today, it's fenced off and closed to the public, with windows that have been vandalized and boarded up. — James Taylor, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Pedestrians will still be able to move through much of downtown during the Grand Prix, but fencing and concrete barriers will block some familiar paths and crossings around the course. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fens, short for defens, defense defense entry 1

Verb

Middle English fensen, derivative of fens fence entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing fence

• chain-link fence
• drift fence
• electric fence
• electrified fence
• fence-mending
• fence-sitting
• on the fence
• picket fence
• ring-fence
• snake fence
• snow fence
• stockade fence
• straddle the fence
• sunk fence
• the grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence)
• Virginia fence
• worm fence

Rhymes for fence

• cense
• dense
• hence
• lense
• mense
• sense
• tense
• thence
• whence
• antisense
• commonsense
• effulgence

Kids Definition

fence

1 of 2 noun

ˈfen(t)s 

1

: a barrier (as of wood or wire) to prevent escape or entry or to mark a boundary

2

: a person who receives stolen goods

fenceless

-ləs 

adjective

fence

2 of 2 verb

fenced; fencing

1

a

: to enclose with a fence

b

: to keep in or out with a fence

2

: to practice fencing

3

: to sell (stolen property) to a fence

fencer noun

Legal Definition

fence

1 of 2 noun

1

: a barrier intended to prevent escape or intrusion or to mark a boundary

2

a

: a receiver of stolen goods

b

: a place where stolen goods are bought

fence

2 of 2 transitive verb

fenced; fencing

1

a

: to enclose with a fence

b

: to keep in or out with a fence

2

: to sell (stolen property) to a fence