ballet

noun

bal·​let ba-ˈlā 

ˈba-ˌlā

1

a

: a theatrical art form using dancing, music, and scenery to convey a story, theme, or atmosphere

b

: dancing in which conventional poses and steps are combined with light flowing figures (such as leaps and turns)

2

: music for a ballet

3

: a group that performs ballets

4

: something likened to a ballet especially in complexity and precision of movement

Where else can you peek into the kitchen and see a quiet ballet of cooks, their entire attention focused on feeding a mere 65 people?

—Ruth Reichl

Rather, it is people and the daily ballet of urban life that make a city.

—Steven Earnest et al.

balletic

ba-ˈle-tik 

adjective

Examples of ballet in a Sentence

She does tap dancing and ballet.

We are going to a ballet tonight.

This is one of my favorite ballets.

Recent Examples on the Web

They’re made from a soft, synthetic leather, have a lightweight outsole, and a comfortable memory foam insole that offers slightly more support than a standard ballet flat. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026

Opera companies have long craved a compact, family-friendly hit, good for all ages, like ballet’s Nutcracker. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026

Over at a presentation at the Sam Edelman showroom, Libby Edelman, co-founder and senior vice president, walked FN through the key styles and trends on display, with a focus on pumps, dressy and cold-weather boots and ballet flats — as well as materials like lace and velvet. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026

Ski ballet appeared as an Olympic demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "theatrical presentation telling a story by means of dance and mime," borrowed from Italian balletto (also "short, well-done dance, semblance of a dance done for amusement"), from ballo "dance" (noun derivative of ballare "to dance," going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -etto, diminutive suffix — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ballet

• corps de ballet
• water ballet

Rhymes for ballet

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• belay
• beltway
• beret
• betray

Kids Definition

ballet

noun

bal·​let ˈbal-ā 

ba-ˈlā

1

a

: an art form that uses dancing to tell a story or express a theme

b

: dancing in which poses and steps are combined with leaps and turns

2

: a group that performs ballets

Etymology

from French ballet "ballet," derived from Italian ballare "to dance," from Latin ballare "to dance" — related to ball entry 3