ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sabres

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈseɪbɝz// UK //sˈeɪbəz// sabres

n. heavy swords with curved blades that were used in the past by soldiers on horses. Today, you might see them used in the sport of fencing.

n. heavy cavalry swords with curved, single-edged blades and large hand guards. Refers to both the historical weapon and one of the three weapons used in modern competitive fencing.


SIMPLE

The museum displays several silver sabres from the nineteenth century.

CONTEXTUAL

During the parade, the officers drew their sabres to salute the passing carriage.

COMPLEX

The transition from heavy sabres to lighter firearms marked a significant shift in military doctrine, eventually rendering traditional cavalry charges obsolete on the modern battlefield.

Synonyms
Usage

This is the British English spelling; the American English spelling is 'sabers'.

Pitfall

he won the fencing match with a sabrehe won the fencing match with the sabreWhen referring to the sport or the specific discipline in fencing, the definite article 'the' is typically required.

© 2026 English Reference