# rubber

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹʌbə/ · frequency rank #4,890

## Definitions
1. Pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree; a hydrocarbon biopolymer of isoprene.
2. Natural rubber or any of various synthetic materials with similar properties as natural rubber.
3. An eraser.
4. A condom, especially an external condom.
5. Someone or something which rubs.
6. Someone or something which rubs.
7. Someone or something which rubs.
8. Someone or something which rubs.
9. Someone or something which rubs.
10. The cushion of an electric machine.
11. The rectangular pad on the pitcher's mound from which the pitcher must pitch.
12. Water-resistant shoe covers, galoshes, overshoes.
13. Tires, particularly racing tires.
14. A hardship or misfortune.

## Etymology
From rub + -er.
The sense of the substance comes from its ability to function as an eraser, displacing earlier caoutchouc. The senses not pertaining to rubbing or erasing are secondarily derived from the name of the substance.

## Easily confused with
- **rube** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rube)
- **ruler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-ruler)
- **Ruben** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-ruben)
- **ruble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-ruble)
- **runner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-runner)
- **rubble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rubble)
- **rudder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rudder)
- **rusher** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rusher)
- **rutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rutter)
- **rubbers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rubbers)
- **rubbery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubber-vs-rubbery)
- **robbed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/robbed-vs-rubber)
- **rubbed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubbed-vs-rubber)
- **robber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/robber-vs-rubber)
- **robbery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/robbery-vs-rubber)

## Common misspellings (7)
`rbuber`, `rrubber`, `rubberr`, `rubbre`, `rubebr`, `ruber`, `urbber`

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