In fencing, a riposte (French for "retort") is an offensive action with the intent of hitting one's opponent made by the fencer who has just parried an attack.
[1] In military usage, a riposte is the strategic device of hitting a vulnerable point of the enemy, thereby forcing them to abandon their own attack.
[2] In everyday language, a riposte is synonymous with a retort and describes a quick and witty reply to an argument or an insult.
In sabre and foil, the priority switches when the parry is successfully executed; the defending fencer now has right of way and may immediately attack with a riposte.
André Beaufre defines riposte in military usage as the act of striking a vulnerable point of an enemy, forcing them to abandon their own attack.