Madonna

American  

[muh-don-uh] / məˈdɒn ə /

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.

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Madonna ¹ British  

/ məˈdɒnə /

noun

1. RC Church a designation of the Virgin Mary

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

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Madonna ² British  

/ 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)

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Madonna ¹ Cultural  

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.”

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Madonna ² Cultural  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of Madonna

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Madonna

Since Kahlo became a posthumous sensation, her works have attracted deep-pocket collectors, among them Madonna.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Other highlights include coverage from UK festivals and live music events, documentaries celebrating Madonna, Wham! and David Bowie and performances from artists such as Charli XCX and Sam Smith.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

For the first time, the World Cup final will also incorporate a halftime show with appearances from Shakira, Justin Bieber and Madonna, among others.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

As someone who is perennially image-conscious, constantly innovating, and occasionally rash, it’s not surprising that an artist like Madonna would incorporate new technology into her art.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026

She sat, lost in thought, on the hard chair in front of Ida's desk, and looked up at the picture of the Madonna.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke

Related Words

• madame