Madonna

[muh-don-uh]

noun

1. Usually the Madonna the Virgin Mary.

2. a picture or statue representing the Virgin Mary.

3. Archaic.,  Often madonna an Italian title of formal address to a woman.

Madonna

¹

/ məˈdɒnə /

noun

1. RC Church a designation of the Virgin Mary

2. (sometimes not capital) a picture or statue of the Virgin Mary

Madonna

²

/ məˈdɒnə /

noun

1. full name Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. born 1958, US rock singer and film actress. Her records include "Like a Virgin" (1985), "Like a Prayer" (1989), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), and MDNA (2012). Her films include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) and Evita (1996)

Madonna

¹

1. A work of art depicting Mary, the mother of Jesus, especially one that shows her holding the infant Jesus; also a term for Mary herself. Madonna is Italian for “my lady.”

Madonna

²

1. An American pop singer known for her many incarnations, ranging from an early “Material Girl” to a movie star (Evita) to a mother and wife. Many consider Madonna a promotional genius for her ability to reinvent herself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Madonna¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Italian, from Old Italian ma donna “my lady”; donna ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Madonna¹

C16: Italian, from ma my + donna lady

Example Sentences

"The park is a fabulous setting for concerts, as legendary artists like Madonna, U2 and the Rolling Stones will know from their own fondly-remembered appearances there," he said.

From BBC

This puts her in third place on the all-time ranking list, ahead of Madonna and behind only Swift and Beyoncé, who have 30 each.

From BBC

She was the first to put a model in jeans on Vogue's front, and now, Madonna.

From BBC

“Seeing my name printed below Michael Jackson and Madonna and immediately above Whitney Houston was surreal,” she writes.

From Los Angeles Times

Madonna's Ray Of Light, written after the birth of her daughter Lourdes, eschewed her brash 1980s persona for a more spiritual, psychedelic sound.

From BBC

Related Words

• madame