tony: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “tony” mean?
Stylish, fashionable, or high-class, often in a showy or exclusive way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Stylish, fashionable, or high-class, often in a showy or exclusive way.
Used to describe places, events, or things associated with wealth, luxury, or sophistication, sometimes with negative connotations of pretentiousness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American English than in British English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it conveys upscale style, but in British English, it may be perceived as an Americanism.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English media and colloquial speech.
Grammar
How to Use “tony” in a Sentence
Used attributively, e.g., before a noun.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tony” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It's a tony part of London.
- The hotel has a tony ambiance.
American English
- She lives in a tony neighborhood in New York.
- They attended a tony gala last night.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in marketing or real estate to describe high-end properties.
Academic
Not used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation to describe upscale places or things.
Technical
No technical usage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tony”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tony”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tony”
- Using 'tony' as a verb (e.g., 'to tony up') is incorrect; the correct phrase might be 'to tone up' or 'to fancy up'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively low frequency and used mainly in informal contexts, more so in American English.
No, 'tony' is primarily an adjective or a proper noun (name); it is not standardly used as a verb.
It originated in American English in the early 20th century, derived from the name Tony, implying someone stylish or high-class.
In British English, pronounce it as /ˈtəʊni/; in American English, as /ˈtoʊni/.
Stylish, fashionable, or high-class, often in a showy or exclusive way.
Tony is usually informal in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Tony Stark (Iron Man) who is rich and stylish – he's tony.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY IS HIGH STATUS
Practice
Quiz
What does 'tony' mean in this sentence: 'They dined at a tony restaurant.'?