saber

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ber ˈsā-bər How to pronounce saber (audio)
variants or chiefly British sabre
1
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade, thick back, and guard
2
a
: a light fencing or dueling sword having an arched guard that covers the back of the hand and a tapering flexible blade with a full cutting edge along one side and a partial cutting edge on the back at the tip compare épée, foil entry 4
b
: the sport of fencing with the saber

Illustration of saber

Illustration of saber
  • saber 1

saber

2 of 2

verb

variants or chiefly British sabre
sabered or sabred; sabering or sabring ˈsā-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce saber (audio)

transitive verb

: to strike, cut, or kill with a saber

Examples of saber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Harry Potter wands, light sabers: Both your Harry Potter wands and Star Wars light sabers are safe to fly. Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025 Both saber makers offer models suitable for children, which are largely, if not entirely, made of plastic, so they are designed to withstand a few knocks and bumps without causing too much damage. Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025 But streamers have been quietly burying similar machine-learning saber rattles deep within their terms-of-service agreements. Chris Lee, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025 The Miami-Dade school district should stop its saber rattling, negotiate differences and heed the words of a journalism ethics professor after the district attempted to take over operations of WLRN in 2017. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for saber

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sabre, modification of German dialect Sabel, from Middle High German, probably of Slav origin; akin to Russian sablya saber

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saber was in 1680

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Cite this Entry

“Saber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saber. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

saber

noun
sa·​ber
variants or sabre
ˈsā-bər
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade

More from Merriam-Webster on saber

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