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

Plus, with Chanel mania taking over fashion, a design inspired by the house’s iconic ballerinas is never a bad investment. —India Roby, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026

She was considered the punk ballerina. —Daniela Tijerina, Vanity Fair, 20 Mar. 2026

Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, Audrey Hepburn was training to become a ballerina. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2026

The ballerina joined Sinners cast members Miles Caton, Jayme Lawson, and Li Jun Li onstage for a musical number at the 98th Academy Awards. —Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026

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