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• tony
  tony

  adjective

  high-toned; stylish.
• Tony
  Tony

  noun

  one of a group of awards made annually by the American Theatre Wing, a professional school for the performing arts, for achievements in theatrical production and performance.

tony

¹ American  

[toh-nee] / ˈtoʊ ni /

adjective

Informal.

tonier, toniest

1. high-toned; stylish.

   a tony nightclub.

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Tony ² American  

[toh-nee] / ˈtoʊ ni /

noun

Tonys plural

1. one of a group of awards made annually by the American Theatre Wing, a professional school for the performing arts, for achievements in theatrical production and performance.

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Tony ³ American  

[toh-nee] / ˈtoʊ ni /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Anthony.

2. a female given name, form of Antoinette or Antonia.

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Tony ¹ British  

/ ˈtəʊnɪ /

noun

1. any of several medallions awarded annually in the United States by a professional school for the performing arts for outstanding achievement in the theatre

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tony ² British  

/ ˈtəʊnɪ /

adjective

1. informal stylish or distinctive; classy

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Usage

What is a Tony? A Tony is an annual award given by the American Theatre Wing (ATW) for excellence in theater production. The Tony award is a black statuette featuring a suspended medallion with the image of the comedy and tragedy mask and the winner’s name, category, and winning year engraved on it. The awards are given out at the Tony Awards ceremony, also known as the Tonys. The Tonys are a televised ceremonial event that features celebrity hosts, musical performances, and Broadway announcements. Typically, the event is seen as one of the most important nights in the theater industry because it gathers many of its most talented performers, directors, and production crews.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Tonys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tony¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; tone + -y ¹

Origin of Tony²

After the nickname of Antoinette Perry

Example Sentences

The DJ Fat Tony also said there was an "incredible turn out of love" at Hall's funeral in Wanstead on Friday.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

“It has just completely changed the game,” said former goalkeeper Tony Meola, who made 100 appearances and three World Cup squads for the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

He continued to live in the U.K., where he attended high school, before landing the role of Tony in the hit British TV show “Skins.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also campaigned on limiting the influence of corporate PAC money in elections, or implementing publicly financed elections in California.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

But he was thinking, Chip wasn’t in that second grade class with Dustin and Jacob and Tony.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix