Advance – To step forward

Beat - A sharp tap on an opponent's blade to initiate an attack

Black Card – A card from the referee signifying a fencer has been expelled and at the discretion of the referee it will be from either the match or tournament.

Bout – A contest between two fencers

Corps-a-Corps (pronounced "core-a-core") – A move involving body contact where two fencers are engaged in a way that allows neither to use his or her weapon

Counter Attack – An attack made by a fencer immediately following a missed attack by their opponent

Disengage - To break contact between blades

Double Touch/Hit – Successful contact by both fencers within .04 of a second. (counted only in epee competition)

En Garde – French for "on guard", the position that fencers take before a bout begins or after a break in action

Engage – To make contact blade to blade

Feint – A false attack designed to force an opponent into a reaction

Fleche - A running attack

Hit/Touch – A point scored by a touch

Lunge - A move where a fencer's front leg moves forward while the back leg remains stationary and straightens out

On Guard Line – A line on each side of center on the strip where a fencer stands to begin or resume a bout

Parry – A defensive action where a fencer blocks an opponent's blade

Plastron – Protective shield worn under a fencer's jacket

Recover - To return to the en garde position after lunging

Red Card – A card from the referee signifying a penalty hit has been charged against a fencer for a rules violation

Right of Way – The ever complicated and subjective system for determining who scores a point in either a foil or sabre bout.

Riposte – A counter attack by a fencer who has just blocked an attack by the opponent with a parry

Warning Line – A line two meters inside the rear line that warns a fencer he or she is near the end of the strip

Yellow Card – A card from the referee signifying a warning has been issued to a fencer for violating a rule.