prima ballerina

noun

pri·​ma ballerina ˈprē-mə- How to pronounce prima ballerina (audio)
: the principal female dancer in a ballet company

Examples of prima ballerina 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.
Best satin ballet flats Embrace your inner prima ballerina with satin ballet flats, which embody the grace of a pair of pointe shoes without all the blisters. — Nina Derwin, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026 Monson de Kansky trained with the former Bolshoi Ballet prima ballerina for three years, until her father inquired about her future. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 Nina has no mentor to look up to; Beth, the former prima ballerina played by Winona Ryder, has been ruthlessly excised from the company for being too old. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026 David Parham smokes salmon with a passion and perfectionism more often associated with prima ballerinas or Japanese ceramists. — Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prima ballerina

Word History

Etymology

Italian, leading ballerina

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prima ballerina was in 1864

Rhymes for prima ballerina

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Browse Nearby Words

prima
prima ballerina
primacy
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Cite this Entry

“Prima ballerina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prima%20ballerina. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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