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Definition of fencesitter

fencesitter

/ˈfɛnssɪtər/
fence · sit · ter
Plural:fencesitters
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fencesitter Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A person who remains neutral, undecided, or uncommitted in a dispute, election, or controversial issue, avoiding taking a definitive side.

Example

"The candidate's final debate performance was specifically aimed at winning over the remaining fencesitters before election day."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for fencesitter

• Nearby Words

fencepost
fencer
fencerow
fencesitter
fencewire
fencing
fend

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 19th-century American political discourse from the idiom "to sit on the fence," evoking a person perched atop a boundary fence to avoid committing to either property.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fencesitter. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fencesitter
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