pirouette

noun

pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet 

: a rapid whirling about of the body

especially : a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet

pirouette intransitive verb

Synonyms of pirouette

• rotation
• twirl
• spin
• curve
• roll

Examples of pirouette in a Sentence

the elegant pirouettes of the prima ballerina

the ballerina's perfectly executed pirouette

Recent Examples on the Web

So a certain number of pirouettes have to be performed in order to actually get past that. — Quanta Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026

In dressage competitions, horses follow a short sequence of bouncing walks and trots, pirouettes and figures-of-eight. — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Batista leaps and pirouettes through the modern 8,400-square-foot residence, which was designed by Métrica Architects. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026

Each piece sports crispy skin cloaked in a tantalizing sauce that pirouettes from tangy to sweet to sour. — Warren Rojas, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, teetotum

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pirouette

• des
• eh
• heh
• yeh
• kopje
• tempeh
• yahweh

Kids Definition

pirouette

noun

pir·​ou·​ette ˌpir-ə-ˈwet 

: a rapid whirling of the body

especially : a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet

pirouette verb