Madonna

noun

Ma·​don·​na mə-ˈdä-nə 

1

archaic : lady

—used as a form of respectful address

2

obsolete : an Italian lady

3

a

: virgin mary

b

: an artistic depiction (such as a painting or statue) of the Virgin Mary

4

: a morally pure and chaste woman

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Old Italian ma donna, literally, my lady

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Madonna

• Madonna lily
• the Madonna

Kids Definition

Madonna

noun

Ma·​don·​na mə-ˈdän-ə 

1

: the Virgin Mary

2

: a painting or statue representing the Virgin Mary

Etymology

from Italian madonna "lady, Virgin Mary," from earlier ma donna, literally "my lady," from Latin domina "mistress, lady," feminine form of dominus "master, owner" — related to dame, dominate, madam