dumbbell

American  

[duhm-bel] / ˈdʌmˌbɛl /

noun

• dumbbells
  plural

1. a gymnastic apparatus consisting of two wooden or metal balls connected by a short bar serving as a handle, used as a weight for exercising.

2. a stupid person.

   Synonyms:

   dimwit, blockhead, fool, ignoramus, dunce

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dumbbell British  

/ ˈdʌmˌbɛl /

noun

1. gymnastics weightlifting an exercising weight consisting of a single bar with a heavy ball or disc at either end

2. a small wooden object shaped like this used in dog training for the dog to retrieve

3. slang a fool

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dumbbells
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dumbbell

First recorded in 1705–15; dumb + bell ¹

Explanation

A dumbbell is a type of weight you might see at a gym. You typically lift a dumbbell with one hand — unless it's too heavy and you accidentally drop it on your foot. Ouch! The short, handheld exercise weights are known as dumbbells, while the larger weights that require two hands for lifting are barbells. If you're new to weightlifting, you might want to start doing bicep curls with light dumbbells. The name comes from the bar once used to ring a church bell: dumbbells resemble these ringers, although they're dumb, or "silent." Dumbbell is also used in a derogatory way to mean "stupid person."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dumbbell dumbbells

This typically happens during the lowering portion of a movement, such as bringing a dumbbell down, walking downstairs, or slowly lowering yourself into a chair.

From Science Daily ● May 1, 2026

I got a more alarming “bleep” during dumbbell thrusters: “Go deeper so your thighs are closer to parallel.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 4, 2026

For instance, each dumbbell at the Chargers facility is emblazoned with the club’s lightning-bolt logo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2025

Carrasco, 36, was lifting weights before Sunday’s game against Seattle when he set down a 50-pound dumbbell and it flipped over, landing on his pinky, Showalter said before New York played at Washington.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2023

“First the telephone was ringing and then I hit my leg on the dumbbell and then I failed English, see?”

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

He says he’s squatting more than 500 pounds and lifting 110-pound dumbbells.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Researchers note that free weights, dumbbells, weight machines, and bodyweight exercises such as modified push-ups, wall presses, and knee bends can all help improve strength.

From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026

For an overhead press with meager 6-pound dumbbells: “You did a lot of reps. Do you want to increase your weight?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 4, 2026

The men's facility featured rows of workout platforms, outfitted with dumbbells, barbells and weights capable of going into the hundreds of pounds.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2024

I finished my third set of bicep curls and dropped the dumbbells on the mat between us, hoping he'd give me some space.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely