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

Picture a crocodile-bomber-plane-hybrid, a ballerina with a cappuccino mug for a head, and a three-legged shark in Nikes. —Annabelle Canela, Parents, 1 May 2025

One of the most popular ballerina flats everyone is wearing around Madrid right now is the Cora Mary Jane Flats from Flabelus. —Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2025

Also journeying across the Atlantic is Mishi (genuine ballerina Taïs Vinolo), a young, naive French dancer who became a star in New York after Geneviève rejected her from Le Ballet National. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 Apr. 2025

There are also silk scarves with pastel poppy prints and watercolor checks, and ballerina flats knitted in Burberry’s signature colors. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 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