fence

fence — noun

1. a flat upright barrier made from wood, metal, or wire that marks the edge of a p

1.nounA2
Definition

a flat upright barrier made from wood, metal, or wire that marks the edge of a piece of land, or stops people or animals from going into or out of an area.

Example

The farmer built a wooden fence around the vegetable garden to keep the deer out.

collocation: wooden fence / build a fence

Sayaka climbed over the fence to get her ball back from the neighbour's yard.

verb phrase: climb over a fence

Common collocations
  • wooden fence
  • wire fence
  • iron fence
  • garden fence
  • boundary fence
  • build a fence
  • put up a fence
  • climb over a fence
  • paint a fence
  • repair a fence
Synonyms
  • barrier

    more general; can be natural or man-made

  • railing

    usually lower, found on balconies or stairs, not used to enclose fields

  • hedge

    a line of bushes rather than a man-made structure

Usage Note

Often used in compounds: garden fence, wire fence, boundary fence. Unlike a wall, a fence is not made of stone or brick and is usually see-through.

Common Mistakes

The wall around the garden is made of wood.
The fence around the garden is made of wood.
A wall is built from stone or brick; a fence is made of wood, wire, or metal.

2. a person who makes money by buying and selling items that have been stolen.

2.nounC1
Definition

a person who makes money by buying and selling items that have been stolen.

Example

The police arrested the fence who had been selling stolen jewellery for years.

register: informal criminal slang

Padma realised the shop was a fence when she spotted her camera on police records.

Common collocations
  • act as a fence
  • sell to a fence
  • local fence
  • well-known fence
  • arrest a fence
Synonyms

Usage Note

Slang term used in criminal contexts. In formal or legal language, 'receiver of stolen goods' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

He works as a fence in a shop.
He works as a fence, buying stolen goods.
A fence deals in stolen items, not in ordinary shop goods.
Idioms

the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence)

idiom

This idiom means that people often think others have better lives or situations than they do.

Maya thinks her friend's job is better, but the grass is always greener on the other side.

Before you quit, remember that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

mend (your) fences (with somebody)

idiom

This idiom means to repair a relationship after a disagreement or argument.

After their fight, Sara tried to mend fences with her brother.

Diego decided to mend fences with his neighbor over the noise complaint.

side of the fence

idiom

This idiom refers to one of two opposing opinions or positions in a debate.

On the issue of school uniforms, parents are on both sides of the fence.

Min and Aiden are on opposite sides of the fence regarding the new policy.

sit on the fence

idiom

This idiom means to avoid taking a side or making a decision in a disagreement.

When asked to vote, Brian chose to sit on the fence.

Instead of choosing, the manager sat on the fence during the debate.

fence — verb

Word family

  • fencing
    nounB1
  • fenced
    adjectiveB2
  • fencer
    nounB2
  • unfenced
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words refer to something that divides or blocks movement, but they differ in material and function. A fence is an upright structure of wood, wire, or metal, often see-through, used to mark land or keep animals in. A barrier is a broader term for anything that blocks the way — it can be a fence, a wall, a gate, or even a natural obstacle like a river. A wall is solid, made of brick, stone, or concrete, and is usually part of a building or built for strong protection. A railing is a low barrier with vertical posts and a top bar, found on stairs, balconies, or decks, and is not used to enclose large outdoor spaces. A hedge is a line of closely planted bushes that serves as a natural boundary. For example: 'They put up a wire fence around the farm', not 'a wire wall'. 'The old stone wall around the castle is two metres thick.' 'Hold the railing when you go down the steps.'

fence ↗barrier ↗wall ↗railing ↗hedge ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fence post
  • fence line
  • fence panel

Phrases

  • on the fence
  • on both sides of the fence
  • the other side of the fence

Prepositions

  • over the fence
  • through the fence
  • along the fence
  • behind the fence

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'fence' comes from Middle English 'fens', a shortened form of 'defens', meaning 'defence' or 'protection'. The original idea was of something that defends or protects an area. Over time, the word shifted from meaning the act of defending to the physical structure used for that purpose.