ballerina

noun

bal·​le·​ri·​na ˌba-lə-ˈrē-nə 

: a woman who is a ballet dancer : danseuse

Examples of ballerina in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As for ballerina shoes, the popular footwear comes in multiple colors, shapes, and finishes. —René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 18 June 2025

Instead, look for de Armas’ ballerina assassin to turn up in Reeves’ sequel, John Wick 5, which was announced at CinemaCon 2025 in April. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

Her ballerina background, however, is fairly extraneous, even with De Armas made to stare solemnly at that blasted music box during her rare moments of rest. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025

The ballerina curtsies and rushes offstage into the arms of friends – friends who are also her competition. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "woman who dances professionally or for pleasure," feminine counterpart of ballarino, ballerino "professional dancer, person who loves to dance," from ballare "to dance" (going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -ar-, -er-, extension in nominal derivation + -ino, suffix of occupations (as in postino "mailman," scalpellino "stonemason"), going back to Latin -īnus -ine entry 1 — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ballerina

• prima ballerina

Rhymes for ballerina

• acarina
• casuarina
• celestina
• concertina
• filipina
• foramina
• leucaena
• littorina
• scarlatina
• semolina
• serotina
• signorina

Kids Definition

ballerina

noun

bal·​le·​ri·​na ˌbal-ə-ˈrē-nə 

: a female ballet dancer