ballerina

noun

bal·​le·​ri·​na ˌba-lə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce ballerina (audio)
: a woman who is a ballet dancer : danseuse

Examples of ballerina in a Sentence

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.
My daughter is 17 years old and an incredibly talented ballerina. Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024 In a new interview with The Times, the author and retired ballerina opened up about choosing not to focus on the 44 years between them. Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2024 Colorado Ballet ballerinas from left to right Izzy Crouch, Julianna Frank, middle and Callie Black, pose with guests Any Skinner and Richard Brandon as well as Santa and Mrs Claus for photos during the 36th annual champagne cascade at the Brown Palace hotel in Denver on Nov. 10, 2024. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024 The feminine ballerina flat has been reimagined for fall with a twist that commands a more downtown edge–thanks to details like chunky hardware, unexpected shapes, and glossy leathers. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ballerina 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "woman who dances professionally or for pleasure," feminine counterpart of ballarino, ballerino "professional dancer, person who loves to dance," from ballare "to dance" (going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -ar-, -er-, extension in nominal derivation + -ino, suffix of occupations (as in postino "mailman," scalpellino "stonemason"), going back to Latin -īnus -ine entry 1 — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballerina was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near ballerina

Cite this Entry

“Ballerina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballerina. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ballerina

noun
bal·​le·​ri·​na ˌbal-ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce ballerina (audio)
: a female ballet dancer

More from Merriam-Webster on ballerina

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