musical
B1Formal, informal, technical
Definition
Meaning
Relating to music; having the pleasant qualities of music.
A play or film in which singing and dancing are integral parts of the story.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, often describes pleasant sound patterns, talent, or instruments. As a noun (countable), refers to a theatrical genre.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference in UK for 'musical' as a noun (the show) vs. US 'musical' equally common. UK more often uses 'musical' to describe a person's talent ('He's very musical').
Connotations
Both share positive connotations of entertainment, artistry, and harmony.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties; noun sense slightly more frequent in US entertainment contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ADJ + noun (musical performance)be + ADJ (The child is musical.)a/the + N (We saw a musical.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit the right note (metaphorically musical)”
- “music to my ears”
- “face the music (not directly related)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the musical theatre industry, ticket sales, or product sound design.
Academic
In studies of acoustics, musicology, or performing arts.
Everyday
Describing a person's talent, a enjoyable sound, or a type of show.
Technical
In audio engineering, referring to frequencies or timbre characteristic of music vs. noise.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb; use 'musically'.
- Not applicable as an adverb; use 'musically'.
adjective
British English
- She comes from a very musical family.
- The clock has a particularly musical chime.
American English
- He's not just smart, he's also musical.
- The commercial had a catchy, musical jingle.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like musical films.
- She has a musical voice.
- We went to see a musical in the West End.
- He is learning to play a musical instrument.
- The musical adaptation of the novel received mixed reviews.
- Her phrasing was unusually musical for a jazz trumpeter.
- The director sought to imbue the entire cinematic experience with a musical quality.
- His critique hinged on the musicality of the poet's use of rhythm.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MUSIC + AL → think 'all about music'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A MUSICAL (structured, with emotional highs and lows); HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS ARE MUSICAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'музыкальный' for 'funny' or 'amusing' (false friend with 'забавный').
- In Russian, 'мюзикл' is the direct loan for the show, but in English 'musical' is the standard term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'musical' as an adverb (*She sings musical). Correct: musically.
- Confusing 'musical' (adj/noun) with 'music' (noun only).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'musical'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, for a person who makes music, use 'musician'. 'Musical' as a noun refers only to a show.
They are often synonyms, but 'musical' is broader; a 'musical' voice is pleasant and tuneful, while a 'musical' show involves songs and dance.
It is neutral and appropriate for all registers, from casual conversation to academic writing.
It's pronounced /z/ as in 'music' (/ˈmjuːzɪk/), so 'musical' is /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/ (UK) or /ˈmjuzɪkəl/ (US).