fence

noun
UK: /fens/
US: /fens/

  1. A barrier, often made of posts and wire or wood, used to enclose an area.

    1. We built a new fence around the garden to keep the rabbits out. [ ] [ ]
    2. The farmer used an electric fence to prevent the cattle from wandering off the property. [ ] [ ]

  2. A person who knowingly buys stolen goods in order to resell them.

    1. The police arrested the fence and recovered the stolen jewelry. [ ] [ ]
    2. He acted as a fence, selling stolen electronics to unsuspecting customers. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

wall enclosure barrier receiver hedge
fence verb

  1. To enclose an area with a fence.

    1. They plan to fence the yard so they can get a dog. [ ] [ ]
    2. The farmer decided to fence off the pasture to protect the new crops. [ ] [ ]

  2. To fight with swords, especially foils, épées, or sabres.

    1. She learned to fence at a young age and became a skilled competitor. [ ] [ ]
    2. The two characters fence skillfully, engaging in a fast-paced duel. [ ] [ ]
fence intransitive-verb

  1. To avoid answering a question directly; to be evasive.

    1. The politician tended to fence when asked about controversial issues. [ ] [ ]
    2. During the interview, he started to fence, trying to avoid giving a straight answer. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "fence" in English means: A barrier, often made of posts and wire or wood, used to enclose an area., A person who knowingly buys stolen goods in order to resell them..

The phonetic transcription of "fence" is /fens/ in British English and /fens/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "fence": wall, enclosure, barrier, receiver, hedge.

Example usage of "fence": "We built a new fence around the garden to keep the rabbits out.". More examples on the page.