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

Anderson became the first Black principal dancer at Houston Ballet and is one of the few Black ballerinas at the head of a major ballet company. —Bailey Reed, The Courier-Journal, 16 July 2024

From a new art space to a new job: Congratulations to ballerina Anamarie McGinn on a big career move. —Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2024

Miu Miu has now entered the chat with its newest ballerina flat in leopard. —Gab Waller, Vogue, 12 June 2024

Additional detainees include Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina and Texan man David Barnes. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 5 June 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