dancer
noun
a person who dances.
dancer
1 American
[dan-ser, dahn-]
/ ˈdæn sər, ˈdɑn- /
Dancer
2
American
[dan-ser, dahn-]
/ ˈdæn sər, ˈdɑn- /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of dancer
Explanation
A dancer is someone who dances for fun, as a hobby, or for a job. The dancers at a rock concert often look like they're enjoying the music most of all. You can be a dancer at your cousin's wedding reception, or a dancer in a professional ballet corps. Though the second example requires a much more serious commitment than the first, they both require you to move your body rhythmically, usually accompanied by music. In Old French, dancer means "to dance," and its origin is somewhat uncertain. One theory connects the word to the Old Frisian dintje, which means "tremble or quiver."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It also features sparkling cameos from Penélope Cruz as a sultry cabaret dancer and Glenn Close as a Spanish-speaking American professor.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
In an eye-catching debut, the impressively schooled and wonderfully animated corps de ballet dancer Kloe Walker, ably supported by an elegant Preston Chamblee, made fine work of the ballet’s “Serenata” duet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Rinko Kikuchi, the breakout star of ‘Babel,’ finds a new emotional register as a dancer picking up the pieces in a movie that flirts with seriousness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
According to a biography on his official website, his father was a mechanical engineer, and his mother had been a dancer before becoming a nurse during the war.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
He played with relish, sleeves rolled up, smiling at his work, tinkling from the low ranges to the high with the tricky syncopation of a tap dancer going up a Ziegfeld staircase.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Benjamin Daniel, known as Ben Dancer, is aiming to dance for 168 hours - 41 hours longer than the current record for the longest individual dance marathon.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Ben Dancer, 33, has been dancing professionally for 18 years.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
These include Klimt’s knockout masterpiece, 1916-18 “The Dancer” and Kirchner’s 1911 “The Russian Dancer Mela,” as well works by Otto Dix, George Grosz and Franz Marc.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
When we try to control all of the parameters of our attraction and devotion, we leave no room for the great Dancer to improvise the next move in our life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
Smooth as silk, Dancer slid into a gallop.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Ruprecht compares the behavior to a row of dancers standing with their arms linked.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026
In late July, North Korean dancers performed at a meat-processing facility near a military air base in the Moscow region, in a concert commemorating the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
It moved to the live stage, with Hargitay flanked by dancers with television heads.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Daly was the host on the dancefloor, introducing the dancers and judges, while Winkleman did the post-dance debrief upstairs in the "Clauditorium".
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
When the music stops, the dancers whistle and clap with their hands above their heads, and none more enthusiastically than Marlena.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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