barbell

noun

bar·​bell ˈbär-ˌbel How to pronounce barbell (audio)
plural barbells
1
: a bar with adjustable weighted disks attached to each end that is used for exercise and in weight lifting
2
: something that resembles a barbell
especially : an ornament that consists of a small, thin metal rod with a ball or bead at each end and that is worn on the body as a piercing
Five years later, he has had eight ear piercings, a barbell on his lower lip and another silver barbell through his tongue. Anne Llamada Estonillo

Examples of barbell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Typically, people are able to lift heavier loads in a barbell deadlift compared to a Romanian deadlift, says Williams. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Nov. 2023 Clements bludgeoned the three family members to death with a barbell after Gatlin refused to give the then-17-year-old any cash. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 The complaint alleges the pair then bound and gagged the boy, put his body into garbage bags, and repeatedly beat Prince by taking turns striking him with a golf club and at one point even using a barbell and concrete pedestal. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 When using free weights such as a dumbbell, barbell, or kettlebell, the easiest point of the exercise is when the elbow is straightened at the bottom of the movement. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 8 Sep. 2023 Ward added that positioning the barbell close to the body will help to prevent that rounding. Tiffany Ayuda, Health, 22 Aug. 2023 You may be used to seeing fitness influencers and athletes max out barbell squats and deadlifts, but many don't need to be doing that. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023 Here, barbells were the star, and hypertrophy—a.k.a. muscle growth—was the goal. Liz Plosser, Women's Health, 30 Aug. 2023 Not in the form of the heavier barbells, but with the G-Vest+ by Omorpho. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barbell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbell was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near barbell

Cite this Entry

“Barbell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbell. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

barbell

noun
bar·​bell ˈbär-ˌbel How to pronounce barbell (audio)
: a bar with adjustable weighted disks attached to each end that is used for exercise and in weight lifting

More from Merriam-Webster on barbell

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