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sonny

1 American  
[suhn-ee] / ˈsʌn i /

noun

  1. little son (often used as a familiar term of address to a boy).

  2. (used as a term of direct address to express contempt, derision, etc.).

    No, sonny, you can't park there!
Sonny 2 American  
[suhn-ee] / ˈsʌn i /

noun

  1. a male given name.

sonny British  
/ ˈsʌnɪ /

noun

  1. a familiar or patronizing term of address to a boy or man

"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 sonny

First recorded in 1840–50; son + -y 2

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.

“She’d sing it in her own way to see if it fits, and she would say, ‘How does that sound, sonny?’

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2025

“Come, sonny boy!” he heard her whisper, and with a smile he let go.

From The Guardian • Nov. 17, 2016

We need to save Mako big Joe and big Sam for the vital last 25 mins. look at NZ today sonny Bill and Barrett won them the game.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2015

Sony was meant to appeal to Americans--a nod to "sonny boy," which was a phrase that was popular in Japan during the 1950s.

From Inc • Mar. 24, 2010

“Why don’t you get some shuteye, sonny? Me and Charley’ll hold the fort. Don’t forget the book, Charley.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.