fence, barrier erected to confine or exclude people or animals, to define boundaries, or to decorate. Timber, soil, stone, and metal are widely used for fencing. Fences of living plants have been made in many places, such as the hedges of Great Britain and continental Europe and the cactus fences of Latin America.

A fence is part of the temporary construction equipment required at a site, and is used to protect pedestrians from the hazards on a site created by ongoing demolition, excavation and construction operations.