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

As for ballerina shoes, the popular footwear comes in multiple colors, shapes, and finishes. — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 28 June 2026

Here, the vocalist juxtaposed a mature half-sheer white gown with a ballerina bun, blue eyeliner in her bottom lash line, coral and bronze eye shadow on her lids, black mascara and a nude lip. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026

Becoming a ballerina takes decades of hard work, but pulling off their elegant look is as easy as lacing up these delicate Taekwondo Ballet Flats. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 14 June 2026

Arwood, a Thomasville native, trained as a pre-professional ballerina with South Georgia Ballet. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 June 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