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

She will also perform alongside Madonna and BTS during the half-time show at this summer's Fifa Men's World Cup final, it was announced last week.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

He remembers his outrage as a child watching Britain’s “Top of the Pops” and realizing that pop artists like Madonna and Bananarama were lip-syncing in their performances.

From Salon • May 15, 2026

Leonard Bernstein composed in one booth; Madonna has said she once worked there as a coat-check girl and was fired; two Picasso drawings hang among its many artworks.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

The Met Gala hosted some of music's most glittering stars: Madonna, Cher and Stevie Nicks are all in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

When I suggest this to Patria as we walk up the drive, she gives me her pained Madonna look.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• madame