ballerina

IPA/ˌbæləˈriːnə/
KK[bˌælɚˈinə]IPA/ˌbæləˈriːnə/

ballerina — noun

  • ballerinasingular
  • ballerinasplural

1. a woman or girl who performs ballet, especially on stage or as her job

1.nounB1
Definition

a woman or girl who performs ballet, especially on stage or as her job

Example

At age eight, Isabela decided she wanted to become a ballerina.

grammar pattern: become a ballerina

After class, Chiara stayed to practice turns with the other ballerinas.

plural use: train with other ballerinas

Common collocations
  • become a ballerina
  • young ballerina
  • lead ballerina
  • professional ballerina
  • train as a ballerina
Synonyms
  • ballet dancer

    the broader neutral term for someone who performs ballet

  • danseuse

    a formal, French-style word seen mainly in arts writing

Grammar Patterns

become a ballerina

a lead ballerina

Usage Note

This word usually refers to a female ballet performer. When you want a more general term for the profession, especially for men and women together, 'ballet dancer' is broader.

Common Mistakes

My brother is a ballerina at the city theatre.
My brother is a ballet dancer at the city theatre.
'ballerina' normally refers to a female ballet performer.

2. a light flat shoe, usually for women, designed to look like footwear used in bal

2.nounB2
Definition

a light flat shoe, usually for women, designed to look like footwear used in ballet

Example

Ilan wore black ballerinas to the office because they felt lighter than heels.

wear + ballerinas

Jiwoo slipped off her wet boots and changed into dry ballerinas.

Common collocations
  • black ballerinas
  • leather ballerinas
  • foldable ballerinas
  • wear ballerinas
  • a pair of ballerinas
Synonyms
  • ballet flat

    the more explicit everyday term for this kind of flat shoe

  • flat

    a broader term for a shoe without a high heel

Antonyms
  • heel

    a shoe with a raised back part rather than a flat sole

  • boot

    heavier footwear that covers more of the foot or leg

Grammar Patterns

a pair of ballerinas

wear ballerinas

Usage Note

This sense is common in fashion or shopping contexts. In everyday English, many speakers also call this style a 'ballet flat'. Distinguish it from sense 1, which refers to a person.

Common Mistakes

I bought a ballerina for work yesterday.
I bought a pair of ballerinas for work yesterday.
When you mean the shoes you wear on both feet, English usually refers to the pair.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A ballerina is a female dancer who performs ballet. Ballet dancer is the broader and more neutral term: it can refer to men or women, students or professionals. Danseuse is a French-style label that appears mainly in arts writing and sounds more formal in everyday English. Principal dancer is not a simple synonym, because it names a rank in a ballet company; not every ballerina has that position. Prima ballerina is even narrower and is used for a top female star. You might say that Hana dreams of becoming a ballerina, but a theatre company hired two new ballet dancers, including one principal dancer from Busan.

ballerina ↗ballet dancerdanseuseprincipal dancerprima ballerina

Etymology

ItalianEnglish

The word 'ballerina' came into English from Italian, where it refers to a female ballet dancer. English first used it for the performer, and later extended it to a flat shoe made in the style of ballet footwear.