plié

noun

plē-ˈā

: a bending of the knees outward by a ballet dancer with the back held straight

Examples of plié 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.

Move to the beat of hip hop, sway your hips to Latin music or plie to ballet. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, noun derivative from past participle of plier "to fold, bend," going back to Middle & Old French pleier, ploier, plier — more at ply entry 3

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of plié was in 1892

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

plicature

plié

pliers

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Plié.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pli%C3%A9. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

plié

noun

Examples of plié in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes