toner

American  

[toh-ner] / ˈtoʊ nər /

noun

1. a person or thing that tones.

2. a highly concentrated organic pigment containing little or no inert matter.

3. a powder, either dry or dispersed in an organic liquid, used in xerography to produce the final image.

4. Also called chemical toner.  Photography, Movies. a chemical solution used to change the color of and, in some cases, help preserve black-and-white prints and motion-picture film by altering or replacing the silver image.

5. a worker for a paint manufacturer who tests the color and quality of paint.

6. a cosmetic preparation, usually a liquid, used to restore firmness to the skin.

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toner British  

/ ˈtəʊnə /

noun

1. a person or thing that tones or produces tones, esp a concentrated pure organic pigment

2. a cosmetic preparation that is applied to produce a required effect, such as one that softens or alters hair colour or one that reduces the oiliness of the skin

3. photog a chemical solution that softens or alters the colour of the tones of a photographic image

4. a powdered chemical used in photocopying machines and laser printers, which is transferred onto paper to form the printed image

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Etymology

Origin of toner

First recorded in 1885–90; tone + -er ¹

Explanation

Toner is the substance used in a photocopier or laser printer that forms the printed image or text on paper. It's also the name of solution used to tint or color photographs. Printer toner is a black powder, while photography toner is a strong-smelling liquid sometimes called a "chemical bath." There's also a skincare toner, which you might use on your face after washing to condition your skin or shrink your pores. The photography sense of toner is the oldest, dating from around 1920.

Example Sentences

The smell of dust and toner mixed with the butter-fat perfume of whatever phantom feast I was imagining.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2025

There was a company called Static Controls that figured out how to jailbreak the toner cartridges for the Lexmark printer.

From Slate • Oct. 13, 2025

“I went to Office Depot, but they didn’t have toner cartridges, and we weren’t able to print the ballots,” Wallace said Wednesday.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2023

Sunscreen and toner, too — and even some tinted lip balms with SPF.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2022

When the Proactiv infomercials hit the airwaves, my mom paid for a rush order, but even the face wash, toner, and lotion combo couldn't conquer my clogged pores and whiteheads.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi