Fencing Terms and Meanings: A Saber Glossary

Fencing terms can sound like a foreign language the first time you watch a bout, and a lot of them are French. This glossary gives each common term a short, plain-English meaning, with a focus on saber. Where we already have a full guide on a term, the definition links to it, so you can go deeper when you need to.

Many fencing terms are French because the international rules come from the FIE (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime). The USA Fencing Rules for Competition say they are "translated and adapted from the 2001 French edition published by the FIE." The rulebook itself uses English, so a US referee says "On guard" and "Fence," but you will still hear the French words at clubs and international events.

Fencing terms list: the bout and the strip

• Bout: One fencing match between two fencers. Pool bouts go to 5 touches; direct elimination bouts go to 15. See how long a saber bout lasts.
• Touch: A valid hit, worth one point. Fencers usually say "touch," not "point."
• Pool: A small round-robin group at the start of a tournament. Results decide your seed. See how saber pools work.
• Direct elimination (DE): The single-elimination bracket after pools. In saber, the first period ends at 8 touches or three minutes, whichever comes first. See saber direct elimination.
• Strip (piste): The fencing area, 14 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. See the saber fencing strip.
• On-guard lines: The two lines 2 meters from the center line where fencers start each phrase.
• Phrase: One exchange of actions between the two fencers, from "Fence" to "Halt."
• Target: In saber, everything above the hips, including the arms and head. See the saber target area.
• Scoring box and lights: The machine that registers touches and shows a colored light for each fencer. See how electric scoring works in saber.

Fencing terms in French and what they mean

• En garde / On guard: The ready stance, and the referee's first command. See fencing referee commands.
• Prêts? / Ready?: The referee checks that both fencers are ready.
• Allez / Fence: Start fencing. Nothing done before this word counts.
• Halte / Halt: Stop. No new action can start after it.
• Touché: French for "touched." See the section below.
• Corps-à-corps: Body contact between the fencers. The referee stops the bout. See corps-à-corps in saber.
• Coupé: An action that passes over the opponent's point into another line. See coupe and cutover.
• Remise, redoublement, reprise: Three ways to renew an attack after a miss. See what a remise is.
• Flèche: A running attack. In saber, the flèche and any forward step where the back foot passes the front foot are forbidden (t.101.5).
• Lamé: The conductive jacket that lets the scoring box register saber touches. See saber fencing equipment.

Fencing terms and meanings: attacks, defense and right of way

• Right of way (priority): The rule that decides who gets the touch when both lights go on. See right of way in saber.
• Attack: The first offensive action, made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the target.
• Attack in preparation: Hitting into an opponent's preparation before their real attack starts. See attack in preparation.
• Beat attack: Striking the opponent's blade to take priority and then hitting. See beat attack.
• Compound attack: An attack made in several movements, usually with one or more feints. See compound attack.
• Feint: A false threat meant to draw a reaction. See feint in saber.
• Disengage: Moving your blade around the opponent's blade into a different line. See disengage.
• Parry: A defensive action with the blade that stops the attack. See saber parries.
• Riposte: The hit made by the fencer who parried. See parry and riposte.
• Counterattack (stop cut): A hit made into the opponent's attack. See counterattack.
• Point in line: A straight arm with the point continuously threatening the target. See point in line.
• Second intention: A planned false action that sets up the real one. See second intention.
• Simultaneous attack: Both fencers attack at the same time, so no touch is given. See simultaneous attack.
• Whip-over: When the blade bends over a parry and still lands. See whip-over.

Footwork and distance terms

• Advance: A step forward, front foot first. See the fencing footwork guide.
• Retreat: A step back, back foot first.
• Lunge: A long reach forward on the front leg while the back leg stays planted.
• Flunge: A flying, lunge-style attack that finishes without crossing the feet. See flunge.
• Distance (measure): How far apart the two fencers are. See distance in saber.
• Grip and guard: The handle you hold, and the shell that protects your hand. See how to hold a saber.

Officiating and competition terms

• Referee: The official who runs the bout and awards touches.
• Salute: Required before and after each bout, to your opponent, the referee and the spectators (t.122). See fencing salute rules.
• Yellow, red and black cards: A warning, a penalty touch and an exclusion. See fencing penalty cards.
• Video replay: A review of the video that a fencer can request at some events. See video replay in saber.
• Rating: A letter from A to E (or U for unrated) earned at tournaments. See USA Fencing ratings.

What does touché mean in fencing?

Touché is French for "touched." Merriam-Webster defines it as a word "used to acknowledge a hit in fencing." In electric fencing, the scoring box registers the hit and the referee awards the touch, so nobody has to call out "touché" to admit one. Outside fencing, people say "touché" to admit that someone made a good point in an argument.

If you want to see these terms in action, our guide to how to watch a saber bout puts them together, and our How to Start Fencing guide covers your first steps. To learn them on the strip, try Saber Nation's beginner fencing classes.

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic fencing terms a beginner should know?

Start with on guard, fence, halt, touch, bout, attack, parry, riposte, advance, retreat and lunge. In saber, add right of way, since it decides most touches when both lights go on.

Why are so many fencing terms French?

The international rules come from the FIE, and USA Fencing's rulebook is translated and adapted from the FIE's French edition. US referees use the English commands, but words like touché, corps-à-corps, flèche and lamé stayed French.

What does touché mean in fencing?

Touché is French for "touched." It is used to acknowledge a hit. In electric fencing the scoring box registers touches and the referee awards them, so fencers don't need to call it out.

What does "en garde" mean?

It means "on guard," the ready stance. It is also the referee's first command before "Ready?" and "Fence."

Is a touch the same as a point?

Yes. Each valid hit is one touch, and bouts are fenced to a set number of touches, 5 in pools and 15 in direct elimination.

Sources (checked November 2, 2026): USA Fencing Rules for Competition, October 2026 (Foreword; t.9–t.15 technical terms; t.18–t.19 strip; t.22–t.23 commands; t.25 corps à corps; t.39 direct elimination; t.96–t.97 saber touches and target; t.101.5 flèche; t.122 salute; penalty card definitions); Merriam-Webster, "touché".