epee

Imagine a duel in a grand ballroom: flashing steel, careful footwork, and the sharp sound of blades meeting. An epee (also spelled épée, pronounced "eh-pay") is a long, thin sword used in fencing. Unlike some other fencing weapons, it allows touches anywhere on the body to count, so matches often feel tense and very precise.

The word comes from French and simply means "sword." You will mostly see it in fencing, especially in sports like the Olympics, but it can also appear in stories about duels or in writing about older styles of sword fighting.

An epee (or épée) is a thrusting sword linked to French dueling traditions and to the modern sport of fencing. It developed from earlier swords such as the rapier and smallsword and is now one of the three main weapons used in fencing, along with the foil and sabre. Unlike the sabre, which can score with the edge, an epee is used only for thrusting. Its blade is straight and narrow, and the weapon is built for careful, exact attacks.

What makes epee fencing different is that the whole body is a valid target, from the mask to the feet. Because of that, fencers have to protect themselves everywhere while waiting for the right moment to strike. Epee also does not use the "right of way" rule seen in some other fencing events, so if both fencers land a touch almost at the same time, both can score.

In English, the word usually refers either to this specific fencing weapon or to the fencing event built around it. You may also find it in historical novels, sports writing, or discussions of swordsmanship. The word often brings to mind a style of fighting that is controlled, patient, and exact, whether the setting is an old duel or a modern competition.