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

Likely because of her kaleidoscopic mix of dreamlike pop, R&B, and electronic sounds that lure you in like an old ballerina jewelry box. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026

In 2016, Jagger welcomed his youngest child, son Deveraux, with his fiancée, former ballerina Melanie Hamrick. — Emily J. Shiffer, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

An enterprising businessman could see this kind of inefficiency and start an assassin training school in Westeros, kind of like whatever is going on with the ballerinas in the John Wick universe. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Celebrities took to the ballerina high heel trend just as quickly as other fashion enthusiasts, despite the style’s hefty price tag. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 July 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