anthony: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Medium (Common as a given name, but context-dependent in general text)
UK/ˈæn.tə.ni/US/ˈæn.θə.ni/ (Primary) or /ˈæn.tə.ni/

Neutral to Formal (Used in all registers when referring to a specific individual, from informal conversation to official documents)

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Quick answer

What does “anthony” mean?

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'priceless' or 'highly praiseworthy'.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'priceless' or 'highly praiseworthy'.

As a proper noun, it refers exclusively to a person. In modern contexts, it can be associated with historical or notable figures bearing the name (e.g., Saint Anthony, Anthony of Padua, historical kings, contemporary celebrities).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The spelling 'Antony' is also a traditional British variant, though 'Anthony' is now standard in both regions. Pronunciation differs notably.

Connotations

In the UK, the name has historical, aristocratic, and sometimes scholarly connotations (e.g., Anthony Eden, Anthony Trollope). In the US, it is a common, classic name with no strong regional association.

Frequency

Consistently popular as a boy's name in both the UK and US for over a century. Variants like 'Tony' are common diminutives.

Grammar

How to Use “anthony” in a Sentence

[Subject] is called/named Anthony.We met [Direct Object] Anthony at the conference.I spoke to [Indirect Object] Anthony yesterday.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Saint AnthonyMark AnthonyAnthony Hopkins
medium
Uncle AnthonyAnthony's birthdayasked Anthony
weak
the name Anthonycalled AnthonyAnthony said

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

"Anthony from Accounts will process the invoice."

Academic

"The philosophical arguments of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, were influential."

Everyday

"Have you seen Anthony? He was here a minute ago."

Technical

N/A (Proper noun)

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “anthony”

Strong

Anton (related name)Antonio (related name)

Neutral

Tony (diminutive)Ant (diminutive)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “anthony”

  • Misspelling as 'Anthoney', 'Antony' (unless intentional for the historical Roman figure).
  • Omitting the 'h' in formal contexts where 'Anthony' is specified.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. 'Antony' is a traditional variant, especially common in the UK and often used in historical contexts (e.g., Mark Antony). However, 'Anthony' is the overwhelmingly more common modern spelling for the given name in both the UK and US.

It derives from the Roman family name *Antonius*. The meaning is uncertain but is often associated with the Latin 'ante' (meaning 'in front of', 'enduring') or the Greek 'anthos' (meaning 'flower'). The 'h' in the English spelling appeared in the 17th century, likely by association with Greek roots.

The 'th' pronunciation (/ˈæn.θə.ni/) in American English is a spelling pronunciation. Because the name is spelled with 'th', some speakers pronounce it as such, although the /ˈæn.tə.ni/ pronunciation is also common and considered correct.

Extremely rarely. 'Anthony' is almost exclusively a masculine given name. The standard feminine forms are 'Antonia' or 'Antoinette'.

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'priceless' or 'highly praiseworthy'.

Anthony is usually neutral to formal (used in all registers when referring to a specific individual, from informal conversation to official documents) in register.

Anthony: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæn.tə.ni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæn.θə.ni/ (Primary) or /ˈæn.tə.ni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • Anthony's nose (rare, toponymic)

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of ANThony visiting an ANT hill, but remember the 'h'.

Conceptual Metaphor

A NAME IS A LABEL; A NAME IS A LEGACY (when associated with historical figures).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
will be leading the project meeting tomorrow. (Anthony)
Multiple Choice

What is a key phonetic difference between British and American pronunciations of 'Anthony'?