fence

1 of 2

noun

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
4
a
: a receiver of stolen goods
b
: a place where stolen goods are bought
fenceless adjective
fencelessness noun

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
Phrases
on the fence
: in a position of neutrality or indecision

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
Ribbons hang from a security fence filled with prayers and wishes for family members trapped to the north. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2024 Porter led off the inning by launching a shot that cleared the left field fence quickly. Steve Fryer, Orange County Register, 23 Mar. 2024 Riley instinctively looked out the window toward the fence. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 Savvier fences thoroughly clean the goods by removing labels, scratching out serial numbers and changing expiration dates. Jeannette Neumann, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Some attendees were seen scaling the fences mere feet away from security, who ignored it. Thania Garcia, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Tree guards — the low fences around beds — help discourage people from stepping on the dirt. Jane Margolies, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The duo were seen being carried on thrones and also photographed greeting children behind a cage-like metal fence. Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Cattle grids are often used in areas where livestock may graze in open pastures and between open fence lines, according to the Farm Ranch Store based in Texas. Maureen MacKey, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2024
Verb
Highlights include a stylish living room displaying an oversized wood-burning brick fireplace with a floating hearth, plus sliding glass doors spilling out to a fenced wraparound deck overlooking the Pacific. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 In addition to her Olympic medals, Ms. Camber won a world fencing championship in Brussels in 1953 and a team world championship in Paris in 1957, according to the European Fencing Confederation. Emily Langer, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 William Workman installed a cemetery east of the family house in the present City of Industry, walled it in brick and fenced it in iron rails. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The fire department also planned to put up fencing around the building. Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 21 Feb. 2024 Nearly three decades have passed since the Miami Heat pitched voters a waterfront park on Biscayne Bay, only to fence in the public land year after year when the team uses it for parking spaces. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2024 Illusion and safety If your garden is fenced or walled and seems small, frame it to create a doorway with 1-by-4 lumber and paint. Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 The land around the property remains fenced in and monitored by CCTV cameras and motion sensors mounted on a fence and overlooking stretches of barbed wire. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2024 Dickinson fell in love with swords and fencing around age 14, while attending an English boarding school and studying metalworking. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fence

Cite this Entry

“Fence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fence

1 of 2 noun
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 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

More from Merriam-Webster on fence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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