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bon ton

American  
[bon ton, bawn tawn] / ˈbɒn ˈtɒn, bɔ̃ ˈtɔ̃ /

noun

  1. good or elegant form or style.

  2. something regarded as fashionably correct.

    The bon ton in this circle is to dress well and know influential people.

  3. fashionable society.


bon ton British  
/ bɔ̃ tɔ̃ /

noun

  1. sophisticated manners or breeding

  2. fashionable society

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bon ton

1765–75; < French: literally, good tone. See boon 2, tone


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But then, the bon ton, not content with padding only bums, moved the bustle round to the tummy at the front.

From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025

Bullock's Wilshire, tony Los Angeles department store, went after war-workers' dollars; Macy's, New York's people's store, waved farewell to the bon ton trade.

From Time Magazine Archive

The book reports Lucius' ad ventures with "butlered bon ton."

From Time Magazine Archive

But Mr Bhosh repressed himself with heroic magnanimity, for he reflected that she was the affianced of his dearest friend and that it was contrary to bon ton to poach another's jam.

From A Bayard From Bengal Being some account of the Magnificent and Spanking Career of Chunder Bindabun Bhosh,... by Hurry Bungsho Jabberjee

Indeed, feeling of any kind did not suit the present age: it was not bon ton; and in some degree always made a man ridiculous.

From Coningsby by Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

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