prima ballerina

noun

: the principal female dancer in a ballet company

Examples of prima ballerina in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Martha has the rare superhuman instincts required to keep both the class and the mess in harmonious balance, and watching her walk into RHONY is like watching a prima ballerina lead an elementary-school dance class. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026 Monson de Kansky trained with the former Bolshoi Ballet prima ballerina for three years, until her father inquired about her future. Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The film explores the iconic partnership between Fonteyn, a 42-year-old prima ballerina and Britain’s most famous dancer, and Rudolf Nureyev, the 23-year-old rebellious Soviet defector who became her partner on stage (and, it was rumored, off it as well). Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026 The New Orleans native and first Black prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera was a pioneer of modern dance. Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prima ballerina

Word History

Etymology

Italian, leading ballerina

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prima ballerina was in 1864

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Cite this Entry

“Prima ballerina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prima%20ballerina. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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