Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

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.

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

"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
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)

"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
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.”

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.

Etymology

Origin of Madonna

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

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.

AC/DC, Jack White and Drake headlined, the latter bringing out Madonna for a smooch, but Florence + The Machine was one of the breakout performances from the year, literally.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Presented with the work thematically and chronologically, visitors are first introduced to Raphael’s origins and education, and then immersed in the world of Raphael’s multiple graphic and painted studies of the Madonna and Child.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

After some small television roles, an appearance in a Madonna music video and a few big screen appearances, his major breakthrough came in 1995 with "The Usual Suspects."

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

In her post, Madonna revealed that she had always been a fan of Emin's "extremely personal and provocative work".

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

She pointed at the Madonna in my hands, opening her arms to receive it.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

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.