musical
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or used in music
a musical instrument
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harmonious; melodious
musical laughter
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talented in or fond of music
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involving or set to music
a musical evening
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of musical
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin mūsicālis; see music, -al 1
Explanation
Anything musical has to do with music. Tra la la! If you’re really musical, try out for a musical so you can sing on the big stage. And, if you’re playing musical chairs, better find a seat before the music stops! Musical things have a tune or rhythm, like a robin’s song or "La Cucaracha." Musical instruments, like clarinets and guitars, make music. Or hope to. The bands you’re into reflect your musical tastes. If your parents are musicians, you come from a musical family. When musical is a noun, it's short for "musical drama." The Sound of Music is a musical (film) about the musical (talented singing) Von Trapp family. Guess what they’re into.
Vocabulary lists containing musical
Reading: Literature - Drama - Introductory
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Academy Awards, List 4
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
British director Luke Sheppard, who just last month won an Olivier Award for Paddington: The Musical, will be at the helm once again - the second time he has directed the musical.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Musical daydreams, Ms. Margulis writes, are “among the most profound confirmations that radical interconnectedness lies at the heart of human cognition.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Musical guest Anitta performed “Choka Choka” and “Várias Quejas.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
Musical tastes are subjective, but the feel-good hit plows through all barriers.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
Then she told me she was entering me in another recital—simply called Musical Overtures.
From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
