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.
The royal added further to her look, wearing a pair of slingback ballerina flats courtesy of Gianvito Rossi and accessorized with a pair of sunglasses by Louis Vuitton, a favorite designer of the royal.—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 July 2025 Now, crochet ballerinas arrive as the umpteenth hybrid-shoe concept to occur this season.—Lucía Tejo, Glamour, 15 June 2025 The young dancers wait silently in the wings, their eyes tracing the graceful moves of the single ballerina who is fluttering onstage.—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025 The ballerina and author of nine books shared her favorite reads for the upcoming summer season with Page Six, including a range of improvement nonfiction, touching literary fiction, biographies and even one of her own books.—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 27 May 2025 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
Share