fenders

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableAmerican

   The curved panels of a vehicle that cover the wheels and protect people and the body from mud and stones.

   Grammar: Countable, often plural for a car: the front fenders.

   Patterns

   • dent a fender
   • front fenders

   The truck had rusty fenders after years of winter roads.

   She bent a fender when she backed into the pole.

   Mud spattered the bike's fenders.

2. 2nouncountablespecialist

   Objects such as rubber tubes or ropes hung on the side of a boat or dock to stop it from being damaged by hitting something.

   Grammar: Countable: hang the fenders over the side.

   Patterns

   • put out the fenders

   Sailors tied fenders along the hull before docking.

   The ferry's huge rubber fenders squeaked against the pier.

Word forms

Common combinations

dent the fenders

A shopping cart dented both fenders.

front fenders

The front fenders were scratched.

fender bender

The two drivers had a small fender bender.

mud flaps and fenders

The bike has fenders to keep rain off your clothes.

inflate the fenders

The crew inflated the fenders for docking.

Synonyms and how they differ

wings

Wings is the British word for a car's fenders.

mudguards

Mudguards are the covers on bicycle wheels, whereas fenders is the American word and also includes car parts.

bumpers

Bumpers sit at the ends of a car, while fenders cover the wheels at the sides.

buffers

Buffers is more general and can describe any shock-absorbing item.

Word family

fender noun

one such panel or guard

fender bender noun

a minor car collision

fend verb

to defend or keep something away

defender noun

one who protects

Commonly confused: fenders or bumper?

Practice

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