parallel bars

plural noun

1

: a pair of usually wooden bars supported horizontally above the floor at the same height or at different heights usually by a common base and used in gymnastics

2

: an event in gymnastics competition in which even or uneven parallel bars are used

Examples of parallel bars in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Later that day, Pan American all-around bronze medalist Yul Moldauer secured his third medal of the week, winning gold on the parallel bars. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Makoto Sakamoto—Considered one of America’s best gymnasts, Sakamoto won four NCAA individual championships at USC: the 1968 NCAA all-around title, 1967 and 1968 NCAA parallel bars crowns and 1968 NCAA horizontal bar title. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Advertisement Archival footage of the show depicts trainers screaming at contestants and contestants vomiting on treadmills and falling while trying to do workouts on parallel bars. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Aug. 2025

Silver medalists Brandon Dang (pommel horse) and Kameron Nelson (floor, vault), and bronze medalist Donnell Whittenburg (rings, parallel bars) round out the team. — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for parallel bars

• abattoirs
• avatars
• handlebars
• isobars
• millibars
• motorcars
• registrars
• reservoirs
• seminars
• superstars
• ares
• cars

Kids Definition

parallel bars

plural noun

: a pair of horizontal bars that are used for swinging and balancing exercises in gymnastics