Tony

¹

[toh-nee]

noun

plural

Tonys 

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.

Tony

²

[toh-nee]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Anthony.

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

tony

³

[toh-nee]

adjective

Informal.

tonier, toniest 

1. high-toned; stylish.

   a tony nightclub.

Tony

¹

/ 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

tony

²

/ ˈtəʊnɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  stylish or distinctive; classy

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tony¹

After the nickname of Antoinette Perry

Origin of Tony²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tony¹

from Tony, the nickname of Antoinette Perry (died 1946), US actress and producer

Origin of Tony²

C20: from _tone

Example Sentences

In the early 1980s, Thomas Brown was working as a psychologist in Hamden, Conn., when he was asked if he would consider working with students at a tony preparatory school called Hamden Hall Country Day School.

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Jonathan Powell, the British government's national security adviser, was heavily involved in the negotiations that brought about the Good Friday Agreement, when he was Sir Tony's chief of staff.

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When asked about ex-Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair potentially joining the "Board of Peace", scheduled to take over the running of Gaza from Hamas under the deal, Sir Keir said he was not interested in "discussions of personnel".

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“Sometimes, clients are paying more for their total insurance portfolio than they’re paying for their housing costs,” Tony Steuer, an insurance expert who works with financial planners, told MarketWatch.

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Scenes switch effortlessly from Prague, with its shadowy bridge looming over the Moldau, to a Brooklyn tenement, a busy office, a tony art gallery, and the roof of the Empire State Building.

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When To Use

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.