noun
baller
BAWL
Baller (noun) means Informal: someone who plays basketball, especially skilfully. Example: “He's been a serious baller since middle school.”
noun
1
Informal: someone who plays basketball, especially skilfully.
"I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers."
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Obama Tells Fellow Blacks: ‘No Excuses’ for Any Failure (2009)
"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller."
— Skee-Lo, I Wish (1995)
"He's been a serious baller since middle school."
adj
1
Slang: impressively cool, flashy, or extravagant, often implying wealth.
"They pulled up in a baller sports car that turned every head on the street."
How to use baller
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA basketball player, or (as slang) someone or something flashy and impressively expensive.
When to use it
Very informal slang; common in hip-hop and sports culture.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more baller
- Superlative
- most baller
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's been a serious _____ since middle school.
Etymology
From ball plus -er; the "extravagant" sense grew out of the image of wealthy professional basketball players.
Rhymes for baller
See all rhymes for baller →Frequently asked questions
What does “baller” mean?
The word “baller” means informal: someone who plays basketball, especially skilfully. In plain terms, a basketball player, or (as slang) someone or something flashy and impressively expensive.
How do you pronounce “baller”?
“Baller” is pronounced BAWL (/ˈbɔːlɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “baller” in a sentence?
Here is “baller” used in a sentence: “He's been a serious baller since middle school.”
What part of speech is “baller”?
Depending on how it is used, “baller” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “baller” have?
“Baller” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: someone who plays basketball, especially skilfully.
