musical
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or used in music
a musical instrument
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harmonious; melodious
musical laughter
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talented in or fond of music
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involving or set to music
a musical evening
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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antimusicalnessnoun
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musicalitynoun
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musicalnessnoun
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nonmusicalnessnoun
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antimusicaladjective
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nonmusicaladjective
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premusicaladjective
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quasi-musicaladjective
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antimusicallyadverb
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musicallyadverb
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nonmusicallyadverb
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premusicallyadverb
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quasi-musicallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of musical
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin mūsicālis; see music, -al 1
Explanation
Anything musical has to do with music. Tra la la! If you’re really musical, try out for a musical so you can sing on the big stage. And, if you’re playing musical chairs, better find a seat before the music stops! Musical things have a tune or rhythm, like a robin’s song or "La Cucaracha." Musical instruments, like clarinets and guitars, make music. Or hope to. The bands you’re into reflect your musical tastes. If your parents are musicians, you come from a musical family. When musical is a noun, it's short for "musical drama." The Sound of Music is a musical (film) about the musical (talented singing) Von Trapp family. Guess what they’re into.
Vocabulary lists containing musical
Reading: Literature - Drama - Introductory
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Academy Awards, List 4
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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.
See Examples For:
The soundtrack, by Skye-based Valstos, fused trad and electronic music and mixed in samples from the country's musical traditions.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The musical will dance its way into theaters again Aug. 16, with all limbs correctly placed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
An old-school tip for finding new music: If Spotify’s algorithm makes you feel stuck in a musical rut, there’s an easy way out.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Manchester has become a kind of cultural capital of cool in recent decades, home to global musical acts like Oasis and the Stone Roses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Soon, the stage would be set up, and there would be a musical performance, and then later, there would be a movie screening.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
She starred in films alongside Alec Guinness, Fred Astaire and Peter O'Toole and appeared in musicals in New York and London.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Davies, who made the Strictly Come Dancing final last year, has had other roles in musicals, including Pretty Woman and 9 to 5.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
But his wish list of non-woke repertory, which also included Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, draws on an attachment that predates his entry into national politics: Broadway musicals.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Pop-star Pink hosts the show for the first time, and while she hasn’t been on Broadway yet herself, her songs have been featured in the musicals “Moulin Rouge!” and “& Juliet.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026
Windy seems to have forgotten she wanted me to listen to Broadway musicals this afternoon, and I’m not going to remind her.
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
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.
