# treadmill

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɹɛd.mɪl/ · frequency rank #18,451

## Definitions
1. A piece of indoor sporting equipment used to allow for the motions of running or walking while staying in one place.
2. A mill worked by persons treading upon steps on the periphery of a wide wheel having a horizontal axis. It was used principally as a means of prison discipline.
3. A mill worked by horses, dogs, etc., treading an endless belt.
4. A process or situation in which continued effort leads to or is required for remaining at a particular state or level without moving ahead.

## Etymology
From tread + mill. Its figurative senses refer to the idea that running on a treadmill requires continued effort and motion to remain in the same place.

## Easily confused with
- **Treadwell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/treadmill-vs-treadwell)

## Common misspellings (12)
`rteadmill`, `teradmill`, `traedmill`, `treaddmill`, `treadimll`, `treadmil`, `treadmlil`, `treadmmill`, `treamdill`, `tredamill`, `trreadmill`, `ttreadmill`

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