pirouette

noun

pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet How to pronounce pirouette (audio)
: 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.
Before plying precious stones and metals, pirouettes and pointes were the means of expression for the Belgian. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025 To the west, the London Eye pirouettes above the skyline—to the east, Shakespeare’s Globe serves legendary sonnets. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Étoile, the Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino vehicle canceled after one season on Amazon Prime, is awash in elegant shots of ballerina pirouettes and the opulent interior of the Opéra Garnier in Paris — which served as the inspiration for the novel The Phantom of the Opera. Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025 During the display, streamers of green, white, pink, and violet light pirouette across the night sky. Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 19 Aug. 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 13 Sep. 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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