saber

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ber ˈsā-bər 

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

• saber 1

saber

2 of 2

verb

variants or chiefly British sabre

sabered or sabred; sabering or sabring ˈsā-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to strike, cut, or kill with a saber

Examples of saber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The official Barbie modeled on Muhammad also included a fencing saber and mask. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Nov. 2026

Not since Scrat, the saber-tooth squirrel from the 2002 seminal classic Ice Age, has one shown so much dedication to the single-seeded nut of an oak tree. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

His military officer's cap and saber rested on the coffin, which was flanked by men in fatigues. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Canada’s response to Trump’s persistent tariff saber rattling has also illustrated key differences in the way North American trading partners are approaching trade in the 21st century. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing saber

• false saber-tooth cat
• false saber-toothed cat
• false saber-toothed tiger
• saber rattling
• saber saw
• saber-tooth cat
• saber-toothed
• saber-toothed cat
• saber-toothed tiger
• saber-tooth tiger

Rhymes for saber

• labor
• neighbor
• neighbour
• sabre
• tabor
• belabor
• nonlabor

Kids Definition

saber

noun

sa·​ber

variants or sabre

ˈsā-bər

: a cavalry sword with a curved blade