baller, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

baller n.

[? have a ball under ball n.³; the term is used esp. by the Los Angeles gang the Bloods; balla is a consciously ‘wrong’ spelling, designed to emphasize the ‘outlaw’ status of such individuals]

1. a hedonist.

1962		‘Yulesville’ in Bench Racer at r.webring.com 🌐 And with that red nose he looked like a baller.
2014		B. Koeler ‘Be My Alibi’ in ThugLit Sept. [ebook] Alright, big baller, you see the messages.

2. (US black, also balla) one who is extremely rich, esp. from the profits of criminality.

1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) xvi: The new dealer is a young black entrepreneur, and he is called either a high roller or a baller, depending on his gang allegiance.
1993		Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘Murder was the Case’ 🎵 Livin like a baller loc / I’m havin money, and blowin hella chronic smoke.
1999		Arlington Morning News (Dallas, TX) 6 Nov. 4A: The place has a reputation [...] not always of middle class homes with children on the honor roll, but of broken ones with ‘ballas’ on the corner.
2000		Eminem ‘Under the Influence’ 🎵 I love snatchin’ up playas, thugs and young ballas / Shoot up the household, even the young toddlers.
2008		T.I. ‘Swing Ya Rag’ 🎵 While you’re in the line at the club I’m in the back dawg / and when this song on, ballas peel stacks off.
2016		Young M.A. ‘Eat’ 🎵 Yeah, flexing and stunting, doing what ballers do.
2020		G. Krauze What They Was 45: They only rate ballers [...] man who are trapping and making p’s and rocking Gucci and Louis and Balmain.
2021		S.A. Crosby Razorblade Tears 166: ‘[They] want to tag along with some real ballers’.

3. (US campus) one who enjoys playing sport, esp. basketball.

[1913		Sport (Adelaide) 23 Aug. 9/1: Nip, a once much sought after baller, is a well known contracter’s pay clerk] .
1996		P. Beatty White Boy Shuffle 73: Ain’t no seventh grade ballers in the city dunking.
1997–2000		Da Bomb 🌐 2: Baller: [...] 2. Someone who loves to play sports especially basketball.
2004		Eble Campus Sl. Apr.
2016		M. Carey ‘Bad News’ 163: The ballers at Bucklin Street Park didn’t quite know what to make of the sullen spectator who stood alone 30 feet from the court.

4. (US campus) an attractive person.

1997–2000		College Sl. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) 🌐 Baller (noun) A person who is able to attract many members of the opposite sex. [University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI;].
2004		Eble Campus Sl. Apr.

5. used attrib.

2022

I. Fitzgerald Dirtbag Massachusetts 8: Sara Crewe [...] who is having an incredible baller birthday celebration.