ballet

noun

bal·​let ba-ˈlā 

ˈba-ˌlā

1

a

: a theatrical art form using dancing, music, and scenery to convey a story, theme, or atmosphere

b

: dancing in which conventional poses and steps are combined with light flowing figures (such as leaps and turns)

2

: music for a ballet

3

: a group that performs ballets

4

: something likened to a ballet especially in complexity and precision of movement

Where else can you peek into the kitchen and see a quiet ballet of cooks, their entire attention focused on feeding a mere 65 people?

—Ruth Reichl

Rather, it is people and the daily ballet of urban life that make a city.

—Steven Earnest et al.

balletic

ba-ˈle-tik 

adjective

Examples of ballet in a Sentence

She does tap dancing and ballet.

We are going to a ballet tonight.

This is one of my favorite ballets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Citizens of Humanity Ayla baggy cuffed mid-rise straight-leg jeans $260 NET-A-PORTER 3.1 Phillip Lim ballet flat $395 NORDSTROM Bring a touch of cool to your denim with of-the-moment sneakerinas. —Renata Joffre, Vogue, 4 May 2025

Immigration dance The Oakland Ballet is performing the world premiere of a new ballet inspired by Angel Island. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 1 May 2025

The model and mom, who shares her daughter with businessman Tom Daly, paired the elevated loungewear look with black ballet flats — a style that’s seen a resurgence along with other Y2K trends. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2025

Étoile’s end credits might as well be a list of the ballet world’s most elite: an A-list lineup of names from New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Boston Ballet, the Paris Opera and more. —Zoe G. Phillips, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "theatrical presentation telling a story by means of dance and mime," borrowed from Italian balletto (also "short, well-done dance, semblance of a dance done for amusement"), from ballo "dance" (noun derivative of ballare "to dance," going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -etto, diminutive suffix — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ballet

• corps de ballet
• water ballet

Rhymes for ballet

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• belay
• beltway
• beret
• betray

Kids Definition

ballet

noun

bal·​let ˈbal-ā 

ba-ˈlā

1

a

: an art form that uses dancing to tell a story or express a theme

b

: dancing in which poses and steps are combined with leaps and turns

2

: a group that performs ballets

Etymology

from French ballet "ballet," derived from Italian ballare "to dance," from Latin ballare "to dance" — related to ball entry 3