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

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

Synonyms

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

Varsho volleyed a two-run, game-tying blast over the center-field fence. —Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Each artifact seems to come with a tale , even the fence posts, benches, and mannequins put out for parties. —David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Verb

Consider fencing to keep pests like rabbits away. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025

These will need to be fenced off while large international construction firms take on the challenges of rubble, explosives, bodies and collapsed subterranean tunnels before tall buildings can rise. —Shelly Culbertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 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