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 airplane later hit trees, two other lights and the airport perimeter fence short of the runway before coming to a stop on the runway, Baker said. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 20 Dec. 2025

The jet also struck a set of trees and a runway fence before coming to rest. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

Verb

The property, police told the USA TODAY Network in an email, is currently fenced off and in the process of demolition. —Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025

Using state and federal grants, the city aims to fence off the tracks for miles along Dixie Highway. —Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

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
• 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