ballerina

UK: /ˌbæləˈriːnə/ US: /ˌbæləˈrinə/ ,(bal′ə rē′nə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bal•le•ri•na /ˌbæləˈrinə/   n. [countable] , pl. -nas. 

1. Music and Dance a female ballet dancer.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bal•le•ri•na  (bal′ə rē′nə), n. 

1. Music and Dance a principal female dancer in a ballet company. Cf. prima ballerina. 
2. Music and Dance any female ballet dancer.
3. Clothing a woman's very low-heeled or heelless shoe or slipper, made to resemble a ballet slipper. Cf. ballet slipper. 

• Old French; see -ery) + -ino -ine¹
• Late Latin; see ball²) + -eria
• Italian, feminine of ballerino professional dancer, probably equivalent to baller(ia) dance (ball(are) to dance (
• 1785–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ballerina / ˌbæləˈriːnə/ noun

1. a female ballet dancer

Etymology: 18th Century: from Italian, feminine of ballerino dancing master, from ballare to dance, from Late Latin ballāre: see ball²