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

When the going gets rough, reach for one of our favorite body care products for softer, smoother skin from head to toe: Now, watch ballerina Tiler Peck get ready to perform in the Nutcracker: Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! —Jenny Berg, Allure, 23 Dec. 2024

After all, a ballerina twirling in her jewelry box home keeps spinning no matter what is going on outside her little universe. —Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024

Instead, the bulk of it is devoted to modern and contemporary artworks that share something in common with Ailey’s choreographies, from a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting to a Karon Davis sculpture of a ballerina. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 19 Dec. 2024

Ruched and Gathered For a little extra texture, try a ruched or gathered leather pair of ballerinas. —Christina Holevas, Vogue, 20 Nov. 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