noun
Uncommon
tonic
TO-nihk
Tonic (noun) means a drink or medicine believed to restore health, energy, or well-being. Example: “Grandma swore by her herbal tonic for colds.”
noun
1
A drink or medicine believed to restore health, energy, or well-being.
"Grandma swore by her herbal tonic for colds."
2
A carbonated soft drink, especially tonic water, often mixed with spirits like gin.
"He ordered a gin and tonic at the bar."
3
The first and home note of a musical scale, around which the melody centres.
"The piece resolves back to the tonic at the very end."
adj
1
Restorative or invigorating.
"A brisk walk had a tonic effect on her mood."
How to use tonic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething restorative (a tonic drink or effect), a fizzy mixer (tonic water), or the home note of a musical key.
Common pairings
gin and tonic
tonic water
a tonic for the nerves
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Word forms
- Plural
- tonics
- Third person singular
- tonics
- Past tense
- tonicked
- Comparative
- more tonic
- Superlative
- most tonic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Grandma swore by her herbal _____ for colds.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek tonikos, from tonos ("tension, pitch") — 18th-century doctors linked healthy muscle "tension" to overall vigor, giving us the medical sense.
Class of 1700
tonic joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
atonic
Related words
Rhymes for tonic
See all rhymes for tonic →Frequently asked questions
What does “tonic” mean?
The word “tonic” means a drink or medicine believed to restore health, energy, or well-being. In plain terms, something restorative (a tonic drink or effect), a fizzy mixer (tonic water), or the home note of a musical key.
How do you pronounce “tonic”?
“Tonic” is pronounced TO-nihk (/ˈtɑ.nɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “tonic” in a sentence?
Here is “tonic” used in a sentence: “Grandma swore by her herbal tonic for colds.”
What part of speech is “tonic”?
Depending on how it is used, “tonic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “tonic” come from?
The word “tonic” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek tonikos, from tonos ("tension, pitch") — 18th-century doctors linked healthy muscle "tension" to overall vigor, giving us the medical sense.
Is “tonic” a common word?
“Tonic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tonic” have?
“Tonic” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a drink or medicine believed to restore health, energy, or well-being.
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