*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 jumper.
- Sara read the label on the jumper.
- 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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does ‘lable’ mean?
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‘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.
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Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). *Lable or Label | Correct Spelling & Meaning. Scribbr. Retrieved 10 February 2025, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/common-errors/label-or-lable/
