madrigal

American  

[mad-ri-guhl] / ˈmæd rɪ gəl /

noun

1. a secular part song without instrumental accompaniment, usually for four to six voices, making abundant use of contrapuntal imitation, popular especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.

2. a lyric poem suitable for being set to music, usually short and often of amatory character, especially fashionable in the 16th century and later, in Italy, France, England, etc.

3. any part song.

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madrigal British  

/ ˌmædrɪˈɡælɪən, ˈmædrɪɡəl, -ˈɡeɪ- /

noun

1. music a type of 16th- or 17th-century part song for unaccompanied voices with an amatory or pastoral text Compare glee

2. a 14th-century Italian song, related to a pastoral stanzaic verse form

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Other Word Forms

• madrigalesque
  adjective
• madrigalian
  adjective
• madrigalist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of madrigal

1580–90; < Italian madrigale < Medieval Latin mātricāle something simple, noun use of neuter of Late Latin mātricālis literally, of the womb. See matrix, -al ¹

Explanation

A madrigal is a specific kind of song, one that you won't often hear on the radio. The madrigal developed in 16th-century Italy and is sung in musical counterpoint, by several singers at once. You're only likely to sing a madrigal if you're in a club or musical group that has an interest in old choral music that is sung a capella (without instruments), with several intertwining voices at once and following a strict poetic form. If you enjoy going to the Renaissance Fair, you'll hear lots of madrigals, because the madrigal form was most popular during the Renaissance. Even though few people sing them today, some of the musical forms and structures from madrigals can be heard in contemporary pop songs.

Example Sentences

But in 2024, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals got approval for its drug Rezdiffra as the first treatment for fat-damaged livers.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

U.S. biotech Madrigal might offer a near-term test case.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

"Open source techniques that we use to train our own in-house models are 30% more accurate than the leading off-the-shelf models," Madrigal said.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

A vegan café called Madrigal a few blocks away in the Rufaza.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2025

"Madrigal," he said, directly, "I want those two ranches—Chandler's and Rogeen's."

From The Desert Fiddler by Hamby, William H. (William Henry)