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

Woven details have been spotted in a variety of shoe designs, including sandals, boots and ballerina flats. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 July 2026

Since her ballerina kindergarten years, Sukihana—the rapper, reality television star, podcaster, and soon-to-be mom of four—has been a polymathic busybody. — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026

The ballerina, who joined the American Ballet Theatre in 2006, also shared two photos of herself and her husband cozying up in the mirror while proudly cradling her growing bump. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Katie Simons profiled 99-year-old Sierra Madre resident Monson de Kansky, a onetime top ballerina who went to teach Parisian royalty, raise a family and still teaches ballet. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 3 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