To parry is to ward off a weapon or blow; indeed, parrying is as important to fencing as sticking one’s opponent with the pointy end. The word parry was borrowed from the French verb parer, …

PARRY definition: 1. to defend yourself from a weapon or an attack by pushing the weapon away or by putting something…. Learn more.

If you parry a question or argument, you cleverly avoid answering it or dealing with it. In an awkward press conference, Mr King parried questions on the allegations. [VERB noun]

1. to ward off (a sword thrust, blow, weapon, etc.). 2. to turn aside; dodge: to parry an embarrassing question.

Parry definition: to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing; avert.. See examples of PARRY used in a sentence.

Definition of parry verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Parry definition: To deflect or ward off (a fencing thrust, for example).

parry, v. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

to turn aside or push aside (a sword attack, a blow, etc.): [~ + object] parried the first attack with a quick move to the side. [no object] As the attacker swung, she parried, then sidestepped his …

Oct 10, 2025 · parry (plural parries) A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying. (fencing) A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.