prima ballerina

noun

pri·ma ballerina ˈprē-mə-

: the principal female dancer in a ballet company

Examples of prima ballerina in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ferri, 61, is an Olivier Award-winning performer and prima ballerina assoluta (an honor given to the most notable female dancers) who has been affiliated with such prestigious companies as the Royal Ballet, La Scala and the Hamburg Ballet. —

Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 26 June 2024 Now, nine years later, the Italian dancer—one of the very few awarded the title of prima ballerina assoluta—has agreed to dance the role McGregor created for her once more. —

Freya Drohan, Vogue, 24 June 2024 The ballet is also unusual because the prima ballerina, Alessandra Ferri, is in her 60s. —

Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 18 June 2024 But the history-making prima ballerina won’t be performing during her March 20 appearance at the Madame Walker Legacy Center. —

Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prima ballerina

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prima ballerina.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prima ballerina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prima%20ballerina. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.

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