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
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
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
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.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
barbell
noun
bar·bell
ˈbär-ˌbel 
: 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
Britannica English: Translation of barbell for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barbell
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share