baller

Baller is a slang term with multiple related senses in American English, particularly within hip-hop and urban culture. As a noun, it can designate a person who plays basketball well or who excels at a sport or activity. More broadly, it can refer to someone who has achieved wealth, status, and a flashy, high‑lifestyle image. As a verb, to ball or ball out means to play basketball skillfully or to spend money freely and live ostentatiously.

Originating in African American Vernacular English, the word derives from ball, as in playing basketball, and spread during the late 20th century. It gained broader popularity through hip-hop lyrics and culture. The sense of a "baller" as a high-roller or showy, successful person is widely recognized in the United States and other English-speaking regions.

Use varies by context: "He's a baller" may praise skill or wealth; "that guy is balling" can imply impressive performance or extravagant spending. The term is often linked to male-coded stereotypes, though women and nonbinary athletes can be described as ballers; phrases like ballin’ or balling out are common across genders. Some critics view the term as materialistic or boastful.

In popular culture, the term appears in music, social media, and entertainment. The HBO show Ballers, while centered on sports business rather than basketball, contributed to the term's wider recognition. Overall, "baller" remains a flexible, informal label tied to skill, achievement, and wealth in contemporary slang.