adj
tinny
TIH-nee
Tinny (adj) means sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker. Example: “The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding tinny and flat.”
adj
1
Sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker.
"The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding tinny and flat."
2
Resembling cheap tin rather than a sturdier metal; flimsy.
"The toy car felt tinny and light in his hand."
"The object had a tinny appearance."
How to use tinny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin and metallic-sounding, or cheaply made like tin.
Common pairings
tinny sound
tinny speaker
tinny voice
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Word forms
- Comparative
- tinnier, more tinny
- Superlative
- tinniest, most tinny
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding _____ and flat.
Etymology
Formed from tin plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Related words
Rhymes for tinny
See all rhymes for tinny →Frequently asked questions
What does “tinny” mean?
The word “tinny” means sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker. In plain terms, thin and metallic-sounding, or cheaply made like tin.
How do you pronounce “tinny”?
“Tinny” is pronounced TIH-nee (/ˈtɪni/ in IPA).
How do you use “tinny” in a sentence?
Here is “tinny” used in a sentence: “The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding tinny and flat.”
What part of speech is “tinny”?
“Tinny” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “tinny” have?
“Tinny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker.
