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pirouette

noun

pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet How to pronounce pirouette (audio)
Synonyms of pirouettenext
: a rapid whirling about of the body
especially : a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet
pirouette intransitive verb

Examples of pirouette in a Sentence

the elegant pirouettes of the prima ballerina the ballerina's perfectly executed pirouette
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Allow Opulence to Star Picking up items from Anthropologie’s New York City Ballet can bring Nutcrackercore to your home quicker than a pirouette. Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2025 Try your hand at a pirouette on the ice rink followed by a stroll around the wooden huts hawking everything from ornaments and crafts to Norwegian treats like gløgg, the Scandinavian version of mulled wine. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2025 The extraordinary footage, which Unitree Robotics shared on the its social media channels depicts the humanoid bot carrying out a series of complex movements, including pirouettes, dance routines, as well as incredible kickboxing skills. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025 Brown, who held the position from 1975 to 1983, was particularly prone to policy pirouettes, most spectacularly regarding Proposition 13, California’s iconic taxation limit. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pirouette

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, teetotum

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pirouette was in 1706

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pirouette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pirouette. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

pirouette

noun
pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet How to pronounce pirouette (audio)
: a rapid whirling of the body
especially : a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet
pirouette verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pirouette

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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