Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well. In British English, the fender is called the wing (usually only referring to the panels over the front wheel arches, in modern cars, since the rear 'fenders' are more an integral part of the car's body shape) or a mudguard. Usually a passenger automobile will have four fenders, with one over each wheel well. In the United States, a minor car accident is often called a "fender bender". There are generic fenders for bicycles that can be fitted to most bicycle frames. These catch and redirect road spray thrown up by the tires, allowing the rider to remain relatively clean. They are relatively uncommon on bicycles in English-speaking countries as these tend to be sports-oriented, with minimal clearance between tires and frame tubes, or are only ridden in clement conditions. However, European utility bicycles, traditional "roadsters" used in developing countries and serious touring bicycles are nearly always fitted with fenders.
