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Slang dictionary results for baller.

baller

American  

[baw-ler] / ˈbɔ lər /

noun

• ballers
  plural

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.

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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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ballers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of baller

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

See Examples For:

baller ballers

I stood among them as I called Netflix and proclaimed I was not a baller.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

In terms of what makes a baller, Ndiaye says it's simple.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2025

Who knew Finney-Smith would be such a baller?

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025

“As a teammate and mentor, a mother and wife, a baller, broadcaster, and businesswoman she has inspired countless young people, both boys and girls, to chase and achieve their dreams.”

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2024

“Nobody really liked Kasim ’cause he wasn’t a baller.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

Elite professional ballers — gold medal Olympians no less — would never be caught doing such a thing—until now, thanks to the brave women of the WNBA.

From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2025

“We have a lot of ballers that can play,” the three-time Pro Bowl selection said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2024

The World War Two veteran agreed to put together a crack squad of ballers and named his new franchise in honour of General Eisenhower.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2023

The actors had to learn to play convincing ball, and the ballers had to give convincing performances.

From New York Times ● Jun. 27, 2023

“We can’t all be ballers like Dray and your aunt Jo.”

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi