# Madonna

/məˈdɑnə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/madonna
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the Virgin Mary

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a title for Mary, the mother of Jesus, especially in the Catholic Church.

For teachers: a title used for the Virgin Mary, particularly within Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions.

- The local church is dedicated to the Madonna.
- Devotion to the Madonna remains a central pillar of religious life in many Mediterranean communities.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the'.

### 2. artistic depiction

noun · CEFR B2

a painting or statue of Mary, often shown holding the baby Jesus.

For teachers: an artistic representation of the Virgin Mary, typically depicted holding the infant Jesus.

- The museum has a famous Madonna painted by Raphael.
- The gallery's collection includes several Renaissance Madonnas, each illustrating a different theological emphasis through the mother's expression.

Usage: In this sense, it is a countable noun.

### 3. skateboarding trick

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Slang

a trick where a skater takes one foot off the board and kicks it down while in the air.

For teachers: a specific skateboarding maneuver involving a one-footed lien-to-tail air where the front foot is kicked out straight.

- He landed a perfect madonna over the edge of the ramp.
- The skater executed a flawless madonna, extending his lead in the vertical competition with his technical precision.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialized jargon used only within the skateboarding community.

## Examples

- The museum has a famous Madonna by Raphael.
- Art historians spent years restoring the 15th-century Madonna to reveal the original vibrant blue of her robes.
- The exhibition traces the evolution of the Madonna through the Renaissance, showing how artists moved from stiff Byzantine icons to more human, naturalistic portrayals of motherhood.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.