Definition

A female dancer who performs in ballet, often trained in classical dance techniques and known for grace and skill.

Example

The ballerina captivated the audience with her elegant performance.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a real ballerina perform live?

No, I haven't, but it sounds amazing!

I went to a ballet last month, and the ballerina was incredible.

That must have been a beautiful experience!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ballerina → It is formed from "baller" (from Italian "ballare", meaning to dance) and the suffix "-ina" (a diminutive suffix in Italian, often used to denote a female). The word "ballerina" refers to a female dancer, particularly in ballet.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ballare' meaning to dance, and the '-ina' indicating a female — a ballerina is a female dancer.

Visually Confused Words