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

Ecco recently showed at the Atlanta Shoe Market in August its line for Spring 2027, which included low-wedge mary janes, block-heel pumps and two-tone ballerinas. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

The actor channeled Effie Trinket in a three-dimensional Robert Wun pink couture ballerina gown, complete with a pillbox hat with another ballerina dancer on top. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026

Malti, 4, wore her dark hair in a ballerina bun complete with a tiny white bow. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026

Robert Wun dress with a spinning ballerina hat on her head, opened up about the experience of being fancast as the younger version of Elizabeth Banks’ character. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 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

• ballerina flat
• ballerina shoe
• ballerina slipper
• 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