This paper presents an equivalent circuit model for a dumbbell-shaped defected ground structure (DGS) in a microstrip line. The effects of equivalent circuit elements of a dumbbell-shaped DGS and their magnetic coupling to the host transmission line are modeled as a simple lumped-element circuit. In addition, simple approximate expressions to determine the main circuit parameters for this model are presented. The transfer characteristic calculated by the proposed circuit model is compared with the results of EM simulation and measurement.