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

Arwood, a Thomasville native, trained as a pre-professional ballerina with South Georgia Ballet. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 June 2026

Monson de Kansky never became a world-famous ballerina. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Crisscross elastic straps emulate the delicate presentation of real ballerina shoes. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

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