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

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Etymology

Origin of dumbbell

First recorded in 1705–15; dumb + bell ¹

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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

The Dominicans celebrated home runs by posing with a dumbbell adorned with plantains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

“I bought the first one of these on EBay,” Rogen said of a standing Maurice Chalvignac ashtray that looks like the lovechild of a dumbbell and a Q-tip.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024

He was injured returning a dumbbell to its rack in Toronto’s weight room.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 28, 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

This can include lifting weights such as dumbbells, using gym machines or resistance bands, or using your own body weight in exercises such as squats, step-ups or press-ups.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

Barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells and cable machines are all part of the strength training Antonia offers in her gym space, located in a shipping container.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

“We use dumbbells like you’d use at the gym,” Porciuncula says, “not those inflatable ones or foam ones, plus weighted medicine balls, kickboards, paddles and other aqua resistance equipment.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2026

When she originally snuck into her foster parents’ room, looking for something to steal from Francis, who gave her the weakest welcome, she spotted Jenn Lori’s bedside dumbbells and gave lifting a shot.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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