saber

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ber ˈsā-bər How to pronounce saber (audio)
variants or chiefly British sabre
Synonyms of sabernext
1
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade, thick back, and guard
2
a
: a light fencing or dueling sword having an arched guard that covers the back of the hand and a tapering flexible blade with a full cutting edge along one side and a partial cutting edge on the back at the tip compare épée, foil entry 4
b
: the sport of fencing with the saber

Illustration of saber

Illustration of saber
  • saber 1

saber

2 of 2

verb

variants or chiefly British sabre
sabered or sabred; sabering or sabring ˈsā-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce saber (audio)

transitive verb

: to strike, cut, or kill with a saber

Examples of saber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The same rules apply for corkscrews with blades, box cutters, cigar cutters, darts, ice axes, ice picks, kirpans, meat cleavers, sabers, razor-type blades, and saws. — Brian Dillon, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 Sticks, staff, swords, sabers, whips or scepters including extendable items. — Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024 Designed in Thiers, France—known to blade aficionados as the knife capital of the world—the saber features an ebony wood handle and can be engraved with a custom name or date. — Sophie Dodd, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024 The latest round of saber rattling from Putin and Kim has come during a week in which the war in Ukraine passed 1,000 days and with Washington preparing for a change in leadership. — Max Burman, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for saber

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sabre, modification of German dialect Sabel, from Middle High German, probably of Slav origin; akin to Russian sablya saber

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saber was in 1680

Phrases Containing saber

Rhymes for saber

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Cite this Entry

“Saber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saber. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

saber

noun
sa·​ber
variants or sabre
ˈsā-bər
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade

More from Merriam-Webster on saber

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for saber

Nglish: Translation of saber for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about saber

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