Phrase guide

fence sitter

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

One who takes neither side of an argument or controversy, but maintains a neutral position.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One who is bisexual, or who is uncertain about their sexual orientation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: potentially offensive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bisexual, bi, switch hitter, fence sitter, fence-straddler

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From fence + sitter, from the verb sit on the fence.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 牆頭草 /墙头草 (qiángtóucǎo) — one maintaining neutral position
  • Esperanto: neŭtralisto — one maintaining neutral position
  • Italian: attendista — one maintaining neutral position
  • Korean: 회색분자 (hoesaekbunja) — one maintaining neutral position
  • Portuguese: "em cima do muro" — one maintaining neutral position
  • Russian: наблюдатель (nabljudatelʹ) — one maintaining neutral position
  • Russian: "моя хата с краю" (moja xata s kraju) — one maintaining neutral position
  • Swedish: (passiv) åskådare — one maintaining neutral position