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
fencelessness
noun
fenced; fencing
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
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
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
Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 16 Apr. 2024
The ball skipped off Evan Carter’s glove and rolled toward the fence as Greene raced home.
—Field Level Media, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
There was a circle of trees, some logs, and a wooden fence; two tepee-like structures, made of sticks, slumped invitingly.
—Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
All three people can see over the fence at the same level, regardless of their height.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
Hang them on a fence or wrap them around a pergola to brighten your space.
—Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, Nina has set up shop just beyond the compound fence where Jonas is playing soccer.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
On Thursday afternoon, stray cats stalked a weedy patch at the back of the property, which is separated from the GardaWorld building by fences, unkempt foliage and a line of trees.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The legal challenge focuses on two areas in California: one between two border fences in San Diego and another in a remote mountainous region east of San Diego.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
The property was fenced off, and authorities continued to scour a 2-mile radius for debris, officials said.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
Under the new rule, hundreds of chemical plants will have to install monitoring for six hazardous chemicals at the fence line and share their data publicly online.
—Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 16 Apr. 2024
The ball skipped off Evan Carter’s glove and rolled toward the fence as Greene raced home.
—Field Level Media, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
There was a circle of trees, some logs, and a wooden fence; two tepee-like structures, made of sticks, slumped invitingly.
—Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
All three people can see over the fence at the same level, regardless of their height.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
Hang them on a fence or wrap them around a pergola to brighten your space.
—Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, Nina has set up shop just beyond the compound fence where Jonas is playing soccer.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
On Thursday afternoon, stray cats stalked a weedy patch at the back of the property, which is separated from the GardaWorld building by fences, unkempt foliage and a line of trees.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The legal challenge focuses on two areas in California: one between two border fences in San Diego and another in a remote mountainous region east of San Diego.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
At the end of the road stands the barrier wall that fences off the refugee camp, and behind it, a concrete Israeli watchtower.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
The property was fenced off, and authorities continued to scour a 2-mile radius for debris, officials said.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near fence
Cite this Entry
“Fence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fence. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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