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, meaning “to ward off” or “to avert,” and was first used in English in the late 17th century. PARRY definition: to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing; avert.

Understanding the Context

See examples of parry used in a sentence. PARRY definition: 1. to defend yourself from a weapon or an attack by pushing the weapon away or by putting something…. Learn more.

Key Insights

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] Definition of parry verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. 1.

Final Thoughts

to ward off (a sword thrust, blow, weapon, etc.). 2. to turn aside; dodge: to parry an embarrassing question. Parry definition: To deflect or ward off (a fencing thrust, for example). parry (third-person singular simple present parries, present participle parrying, simple past and past participle parried) To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).