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Synonyms

musical

American  
[myoo-zi-kuhl] / ˈmyu zɪ kəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or producing music.

    a musical instrument.
    Synonyms:
    lyric, sweet, melodic, dulcet, tuneful

  2. of the nature of or resembling music; melodious; harmonious.

  3. fond of or skilled in music.

  4. set to or accompanied by music.

    a musical entertainment.

noun

  1. a play or movie in which the storyline is interspersed with or developed by songs, dances, and the like.

musical British  
/ ˈmjuːzɪkəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or used in music

    a musical instrument

  2. harmonious; melodious

    musical laughter

  3. talented in or fond of music

  4. involving or set to music

    a musical evening
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. short for musical comedy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
musical Cultural  

  1. A play or film that contains musical numbers. Musicals can be comedic (see musical comedy) or serious in tone, such as Porgy and Bess.

Other Word Forms

  • antimusical adjective
  • antimusically adverb
  • antimusicalness noun
  • musicality noun
  • musically adverb
  • musicalness noun
  • nonmusical adjective
  • nonmusically adverb
  • nonmusicalness noun
  • premusical adjective
  • premusically adverb
  • quasi-musical adjective
  • quasi-musically adverb

Etymology

Origin of musical

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin mūsicālis; music, -al 1

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.

Back in fall 2004, Simpson, who’s now 41, was about to do her second song as the musical guest on “SNL.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The Swedish pop singer maintains her distinct musical personality on a new album—her first since 2018—reflecting on life in middle age.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Back in 2009, he performed a musical based on his life at the Edinburgh Festival.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

“So to get a world premiere musical that is based on its own original concept — that, I found, was really compelling.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

They even showed me on camera once, when we were playing musical plates, except my face was blurred out, so you couldn’t tell it was me if you didn’t know.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

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.