Madison Avenue

American  

noun

1. a street in New York City that is a center of the advertising and public relations industries and that has become a symbol of their attitudes, methods, and practices.

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Madison Avenue British  

noun

1. a street in New York City: a centre of American advertising and public-relations firms and a symbol of their attitudes and methods

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Madison Avenue Cultural  

1. A street in Manhattan on which many advertising and public relations firms have offices.

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“Madison Avenue hype” carries the connotation of misrepresentation or deliberate dishonesty.

The name of the street is often used to refer to the high-pressure techniques of the advertising business.

Example Sentences

Their firm’s work offers a window into how AI is automating labor-intensive, expensive tasks once controlled by research companies, consultants and Madison Avenue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

During her long tenure on the beat, she’s covered the inner workings of Madison Avenue and companies such as WPP, Omnicom, and Publicis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Cassandra Grey at her upscale beauty store Violet Grey on Madison Avenue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

Cassandra Grey at her upscale beauty store Violet Grey on Madison Avenue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

It was noon by the time they stopped and ate breakfast at a Chock Full O’Nuts on Madison Avenue.

From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg