*Lable or Label | Correct Spelling & Meaning
Label is a noun referring to a piece of material that identifies or describes an object it’s affixed to. It’s also used as a verb to refer to the act of attaching a label to something or, more negatively, to refer to the act of assigning someone to a specific category.
“Lable” is sometimes used instead of label, but this is incorrect. “Lable” is not a real word and should be avoided.
- Sara read the lable on the sweater.
- Sara read the label on the sweater.
- You shouldn’t lable people based on their religious beliefs.
- You shouldn’t label people based on their religious beliefs.
Label as a noun
Label is a noun that refers to a piece of material that’s affixed to an object to identify or describe it—or metaphorically to the name that is given to something or someone. It can also be used to refer to a company that records music, or to a fashion company.
The band were signed by a well-known record label.
I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I think you bought the coat only because of the label.
Label as a verb
Label can be used as a verb to refer to the act of affixing a label to something or, more negatively, to the act of assigning someone to a category (often based on superficial reasons or stereotypes).
I don’t label people based on how they dress.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- What does “lable” mean?
-
“Lable” is sometimes mistakenly used instead of label. Because the word is pronounced like some words that end in “-able” (e.g., “table”), people sometimes mistakenly write “lable.” But “lable” is not an acceptable spelling and should be avoided.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). *Lable or Label | Correct Spelling & Meaning. Scribbr. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/common-mistakes/lable-or-label/
