# barbell

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɑɹˌbɛl/ · frequency rank #44,078

## Definitions
1. A wide steel bar with premeasured weights counterpoised at either end, with the central span open for the hands of the weightlifter.
2. A piece of jewellery composed of a straight bar with a bead on each end, used as a piercing.

## Etymology
Blend of bar + dumbbell. The piercing is named after the exercise equipment, because of the visual resemblance.

## Easily confused with
- **barely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbell-vs-barely)
- **barrel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbell-vs-barrel)
- **barber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbell-vs-barber)
- **Babel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babel-vs-barbell)
- **barbed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbed-vs-barbell)

## Common misspellings (9)
`abrbell`, `babrell`, `barbbell`, `barbel`, `barblel`, `barebll`, `barrbell`, `bbarbell`, `brabell`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/barbell