baller

[baw-ler]

noun

1. Slang.,  Also balla

   1. a successful person who has or earns a lot of money and lives a lavish, flashy, or extravagant lifestyle.

      I busted out my newly tailored suit and rolled in there like a baller, or at least I tried my best to.

      He’s a real baller now, upgrading from a bachelor pad to a penthouse.

   2. someone who is proficient at playing ball, especially basketball.

      She'll be taking her talents, as a baller and a student, to Davidson College this fall.

2. a tool that makes, scoops, or winds things into balls (used in combination).

   Using a melon baller, scoop out the inside of the apples, taking care to create a shell of even thickness.

   Just for kicks, they balled socks in a mechanical sock baller and shot them across the room.

adjective

1. Slang.,  Also balla great or excellent, especially in a flashy or stylish way.

   I'd never been inside that club before, and the place is baller—it’s going to blow you away.

Word History and Origins

Origin of baller¹

First recorded in 1580–90, ball ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ) (in general sense “ball player”); in 1825–35 baller for def. 2, ball ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ) (in sense “tool or scoop”); in 1985–90 baller for def. 1b, shortening of (basket)ball ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ); in 1990–95 baller for def. 3, in adjective sense “great, excellent”; perhaps from ball ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ), or from ball ² ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ), the spelling balla representing an African-American Vernacular pronunciation

Example Sentences

That doesn’t seem likely but then again, The Oldest Living Baller currently exists in the unlikely.

From Los Angeles Times

“Derwin James told me Reed is a baller,” Harbaugh said.

From Los Angeles Times

When the towering baller arrived at the Sony scoring stage, John said: “I hope that you like what I’ve written.”

From Los Angeles Times

He's also known for managing a Baller League team, playing in Soccer Aid and playing for Red Bull's esports team.

From BBC

He’s 5 feet 11, 160 pounds, an A student and certified baller.

From Los Angeles Times