ballroom
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ballroom
Explanation
A ballroom is a room that has enough space for many people to dance. Traditionally, a ballroom has either a hardwood or marble floor. Most private houses are built without ballrooms these days, but it was once common for a grand home or mansion to include a special room for throwing dance parties. These ballrooms were large, with high ceilings, and could accommodate a live band and many dancers. Ballroom dancing was originally a formal, social dance form that only happened in ballrooms. The word comes from ball, or party, with the Latin root ballare, "to dance."
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:
One of the night’s longest detours centered on Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
His team, amid the panic, jumped into action, reporting the story that shocked a ballroom full of journalists—and Americans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
"I think we're building a beautiful ballroom on top of it, based on this picture," Trump noted, referring to his pet construction project which has been snarled by lawsuits.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
"There is, however, one stage I've never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor. I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can't wait to get started."
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Mr. Lemoncello flourished his arm toward the ballroom doors.
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
He told me that during his childhood, Eid prayers were sometimes held in hotel ballrooms because mosques were too few and too small.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
Demos, presentations and meetings will take place in a massive convention center as well as ballrooms and suites throughout the city.
From Barron's ● Jan. 3, 2026
Firms that had banner years would lay siege to hotel ballrooms, trumpeting their good fortune with rip-roaring excesses more suited to an Indian wedding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025
At a dinner with donors last week, Trump said: “Everything out there is coming down and we’re replacing it with one of the most beautiful ballrooms you’ve ever seen.”
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2025
Before I got fired for accusing Mr. White Manager of wearing a hairpiece, I used to clean the ballrooms at the Robert E. Lee Hotel.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
