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

For Her First Golden Globe Nomination Now, watch a ballerina prep for the Nutcracker: Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 Dec. 2024

In this last one, by the way, Katie Holmes has taught us to see innocent ballerinas as a not-so-childish accessory. —Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 15 Dec. 2024

Accessories spanning from creative director’s Maximilian Davis’ Hug bag in multiple iterations to velvet ballerina flats take center stage. —Martino Carrera, WWD, 13 Dec. 2024

Slain dad's daughter rips killer ballerina stepmom at sentencing. —Fox News Staff, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

ballerina

noun

bal·​le·​ri·​na ˌbal-ə-ˈrē-nə 

: a female ballet dancer