adj
Common
Tony
TOH-nee
Tony (adj) means Fashionable and upscale; high-toned. Example: “They moved into a tony neighbourhood near the coast.”
adj
1
Fashionable and upscale; high-toned.
"They moved into a tony neighbourhood near the coast."
"Meanwhile, on another plane entirely, “Another Period” (Comedy Central, recently renewed for Season 2) is a send-up of crunchy-gravel dramas, set in tony Rhode Island in 1902."
— Hank Stuever, In the hunt for a new favorite show, 'when' might be as crucial as 'what' (2015)
"The meaty and more familiar parts of Anna’s story — passing as a German heiress, ripping off tony hotels, brazenly exploiting narcissistic machers and star-struck working women — are told in flashback as Vivian reports her article."
— Mike Hale, ‘Inventing Anna’ Review: The SoHo Scammer, Explained at Length (2022)
noun
1
One of the awards given annually by the American Theatre Wing for excellence in Broadway theatre.
"She was first nominated for a Tony in 1990 for “The Grapes of Wrath,” and she was nominated again, in 1996, for “Buried Child” — both times for best featured actress in a play."
— Sarah Bahr, Lois Smith is the oldest performer to win a Tony (2021)
"The musical won five Tonys, including Best Musical."
How to use Tony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the Broadway theatre award, or an informal adjective for something posh and stylish.
Common pairings
win a Tony
a tony address
a tony restaurant
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Word forms
- Plural
- Tonys, Tonies
- Comparative
- tonier
- Superlative
- toniest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They moved into a _____ neighbourhood near the coast.
Etymology
The award is named after Antoinette "Tony" Perry, a co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. The adjective sense is a separate use of the name Tony, from "high-toned."
Related words
Rhymes for Tony
See all rhymes for Tony →Frequently asked questions
What does “Tony” mean?
The word “Tony” means fashionable and upscale; high-toned. In plain terms, either the Broadway theatre award, or an informal adjective for something posh and stylish.
How do you pronounce “Tony”?
“Tony” is pronounced TOH-nee (/ˈtoʊni/ in IPA).
How do you use “Tony” in a sentence?
Here is “Tony” used in a sentence: “They moved into a tony neighbourhood near the coast.”
What part of speech is “Tony”?
Depending on how it is used, “Tony” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Tony” a common word?
“Tony” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Tony” have?
“Tony” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fashionable and upscale; high-toned.
What is the difference between tony and posh?
Both describe something upscale and fashionable, but tony is chiefly American and often used of neighbourhoods, hotels or shops that project wealth and style. Posh is more common in British English and can describe people and accents as well as places. In practice they mean much the same: smart, expensive and high-class.
What is an example of tony?
You might read about 'a tony address in Manhattan', 'a tony private school', or 'the city's toniest restaurant'. The word paints a picture of money, fashion and exclusivity, so it suits smart hotels, expensive shopping streets and well-heeled suburbs. It is nearly always used approvingly, suggesting a place worth being seen in.
Is tony a formal or informal word?
Tony is fairly informal and slightly journalistic, popular in lifestyle writing, property listings and reviews rather than formal prose. It carries a light, approving tone, hinting that a place is chic and expensive. In more formal writing you would more likely see 'upscale', 'exclusive' or 'fashionable' in its place.
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