madison

n. a common first name for girls and boys, or a last name.

n. a given name of English origin, historically a surname, which gained significant popularity as a feminine given name in the late 20th century.

“Madison is the new student in our history class this semester.”

“The registrar noted that Madison had become one of the most frequently recorded given names for girls in the region over the last decade.”

n. the name of several places in the U.S., most notably the capital city of Wisconsin.

n. a toponym referring to various locations in the United States, most prominently the capital of Wisconsin, typically named after James Madison.

“We are driving to Madison this weekend to visit the state capitol building.”

“Madison serves as a major hub for education and government, housing both the state legislature and the flagship university campus.”

n. the fourth president of the United States and one of the country's founders.

n. refers to James Madison (1751–1836), the fourth U.S. president and a primary architect of the U.S. Constitution.

“In history class, we learned how Madison helped write the Constitution.”

“Scholars often debate the extent of Madison's influence on the Federalist Papers compared to that of Alexander Hamilton.”

Formal

n. a type of team race in track cycling where riders take turns.

n. a relay event in track cycling where teammates exchange places by touching or pushing one another while at high speed.

“The crowd cheered as the riders completed a fast exchange during the madison.”

“The madison requires exceptional coordination and timing, as the relief rider must match the speed of their teammate before the hand-sling exchange.”

Technical

n. a popular group dance from the late 1950s and early 1960s.

n. a novelty line dance that originated in the late 1950s, characterised by a series of called steps.

“The wedding band played an old song and everyone started doing the madison.”

“The madison was a staple of early 1960s youth culture, often featured on televised dance programmes of the era.”

Archaic