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

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.

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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.

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

By the time she put the property on the market, the reality TV matriarch confirmed that she had moved out and into another estate she purchased in the same tony community of Hidden Hills.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

Sandwiched between Bel-Air and Santa Monica, the tony Los Angeles neigborhood of Brentwood has long been home to more than its fair share of industry captains, actors, directors, musicians, media moguls and professional athletes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

In the years since then, she has added several other surrounding parcels to the property, turning it into one of the most jaw-dropping estates in the tony Santa Barbara enclave.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 15, 2025

Mr. Schlossberg’s résumé bears many of the hallmarks of elite status: tony New York prep school, Yale undergraduate degree, joint business and law degree from Harvard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

Nothing was brokn broken except for tony isnt happy and silly all the time like he used to be.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper