madison

plural madisons · alternative Madison

1. cycle racingA track cycling relay race in which team members take turns while racing round the track for the largest number of laps, and exchange places with a team mate by means of a touch, which may be a push or a hand-sling.
2. danceA form of line dance.

plural Madisons · alternative Maddieson · alternative Maddison · alternative Maddieson · alternative Maddison · alternative Madicyn · alternative Madisyn · alternative Madyson

1. countableuncountableAn English surname; (US politics) used specifically of James Madison (1751–1836), a Founding Father and fourth president of the United States.

   Clearly quite a number of past chief executives would have been TV washouts. Jefferson, for example, is acknowledged to have been a terrible public speaker, Madison an unimpressive little man in voice and appearance.

   2011 October 28, Alonzo L. Hamby, “Would Jefferson Make the Cut?”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 08 Aug 2021

2. A locale in the United States; all named for James Madison unless otherwise indicated.
   1. countableuncountableThe capital city of Wisconsin, United States, and the county seat of Dane County.

      City governments have joined in by deactivating the cameras or canceling contracts with Flock in Fort Collins, Colorado; Eugene, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Knoxville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; and Walla Walla, Washington.

      2026 July 30, T.M. Brown, “Flock cameras are getting mobbed”, in CNN, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2026

   2. countableuncountableA city in Alabama.
   3. countableuncountableA city in Arkansas.
   4. countableuncountableA census-designated place in Yolo County, California; named for Madison, Wisconsin.
   5. countableuncountableA town in New Haven County, Connecticut.
   6. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Madison County, Florida.
   7. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Morgan County, Georgia.
   8. countableuncountableA city in Madison County and St. Clair County, Illinois.
   9. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Jefferson County, Indiana.
   10. countableuncountableA minor city in Greenwood County, Kansas.
   11. countableuncountableA town in Somerset County, Maine.
   12. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota; named for Madison, Wisconsin.
   13. countableuncountableA city in Mississippi.
   14. countableuncountableA city in Missouri.
   15. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Madison County, Nebraska; named for its county, itself for James Madison.
   16. countableuncountableA town in Carroll County, New Hampshire.
   17. countableuncountableA borough in Morris County, New Jersey.
   18. countableuncountableA town in New York and a village within that town.
   19. countableuncountableA town in North Carolina.
   20. countableuncountableA village in Ohio; named for either James Madison or Madison, Connecticut.
   21. countableuncountableA borough in Pennsylvania.
   22. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Lake County, South Dakota; named for Madison, Wisconsin.
   23. countableuncountableA town, the county seat of Madison County, Virginia; named for the landowning Madison family, of which James Madison is a descendant.
   24. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Boone County, West Virginia.
   25. countableuncountableA town in Wisconsin, adjacent to the city of Madison (listed above).
   26. countableuncountableA number of townships in the United States, listed under Madison Township.
3. countableuncountableA river in Wyoming and Montana, United States; named for James Madison.
4. countableuncountableA male given name transferred from the surname.
5. countableuncountableA female given name transferred from the surname, popular since 1984 when it appeared as the name of a mermaid in the film Splash.

   Vanessa likes the ultrapopular Madison as a girl's name, which tells you everything you need to know about her personality.

   2007 December 3, Christy Lemire, “Review: "Juno" A Small Comic Charmer”, in CBS News, archived from the original on 16 Apr 2025

plural Madisons

1. usually preceded by definite articleA particular line dance commonly danced to the Ike & Tina Turner song Nutbush City Limits (though predating that song's release).

   It's not everybody's shampoo and set, but the music, the humour and the dancing will strike a chord with all those old enough to remember Chubby Checker, The Madison and The Mashed Potato.

   1989 June 19, The Canberra Times, page 14, column 1

   1 more example

   This dance with a familiar name is not to be confused with the Madison of a few years ago. The 1962 Madison is simply a twist on the Twist. [...] "The Madison was first introduced to Parisian teenagers from America by television and caught on practically overnight. There is already a nightclub called The Madison. In the nightclubs and at large parties everyone dances in lines, the best dancers in the front line so the beginners behind them can learn from the experts. The Madison is best when done with five or more couples."

   1962 August 22, The Australian Women's Weekly, page 4, column 1

2. Alternative letter-case form of madison.