What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fender
Example
The car's fender was dented in the accident. [fender: noun]
Example
He installed fenders on his bike to keep the mud off his clothes. [fenders: plural noun]
shield
Example
The knight held up his shield to protect himself from the enemy's sword. [shield: noun]
Example
The spacecraft's heat shield protected it from the extreme temperatures during re-entry. [heat shield: compound noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fender is more commonly used in the context of transportation, while shield can be used in a wider range of contexts, making it more versatile and commonly used in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fender and shield?
Both fender and shield are relatively neutral in terms of formality, but shield may have a slightly more formal or literary connotation due to its historical and symbolic associations.