noun
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a person who fights with a sword, esp one who practises the art of fencing
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a person who erects and repairs fences
Etymology
Origin of fencer
Explanation
A fencer is someone who participates in the sport of fencing, or sword fighting. Fencers are among the athletes who compete in the Olympics every four years. If you become a fencer, you'll learn all the rules and strategy behind dueling with rapiers or swords. Fencers wear special gear, including protective jackets, short pants, gloves, and masks. The word fencer comes from the verb fence, "defend oneself," from the noun fence, "fortification," a shortened form of defense.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With Madonna to his right and Rihanna on his left, the London-born American fencer was the unexpected filling in a pop royalty sandwich.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Mattel has recreated a host of sporting figures as Barbie dolls, including American Olympic champion gymnast Gabby Douglas, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, snowboarder Chloe Kim and golfer Lorena Ochoa.
From BBC • Aug. 14, 2025
Not only did she secure the title in women’s team foil, she also helped teammate Lee Kiefer earn a record third career gold, most ever for an American fencer.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2024
The fencer competed at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and at Tokyo in 2021.
From Seattle Times • May 9, 2024
She was the best saber fencer in France at the time and ranked ninth in the world, right behind me.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.