bon ton: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, sometimes ironic
Quick answer
What does “bon ton” mean?
Good or fashionable style.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Good or fashionable style; polite or sophisticated manners.
The conventions of polite society; the accepted standards of behavior, taste, and etiquette among fashionable or upper-class people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, reflecting historical French influence on British aristocracy. In American English, it may sound more consciously borrowed or pretentious.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry neutral, positive, or slightly ironic connotations. In British English, it might be used more matter-of-factly about social norms; in American English, its use might more deliberately signal sophistication or critique elitism.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK texts dealing with society, manners, or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bon ton” in a Sentence
N of bon tonADJ bon tonV (observe/follow) bon tonVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of corporate culture or client entertainment in very formal contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or cultural studies discussing class, manners, and social norms.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound affected or humorous.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bon ton”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bon ton”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bon ton”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a bon ton party' – incorrect). It is primarily a noun phrase. Spelling it as one word ('bonton'). Confusing it with 'bon vivant'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal, or literary term. Using it in casual conversation would sound affected or deliberately erudite.
Rarely and not standardly. It is primarily a noun phrase (e.g., 'the rules of bon ton'). Using it attributively (e.g., 'bon ton behaviour') is non-standard and best avoided.
'Etiquette' is a common, neutral English word for the customary code of polite behaviour. 'Bon ton' is a more specific, often elite-focused term implying the fashionable or sophisticated manners of a particular social set, and it carries a stronger sense of unwritten, insider knowledge.
Often, yes. As an unmaturalised foreign phrase, it is frequently italicised in published texts to mark its foreign origin, though this practice is not universal.
Good or fashionable style.
Bon ton is usually formal, literary, sometimes ironic in register.
Bon ton: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɒ̃ ˈtɒ̃/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑːn ˈtɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not quite the bon ton”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BON' as 'good' in French and 'TON' as 'tone'—the 'good tone' of society.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS A SET OF RULES / FASHION IS A CODE
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'bon ton' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?