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

Four years before purchasing their Malibu hideaway, Gadot and Varsano purchased an enormous primary residence in the tony Beverly Crest community in Beverly Hills, records show.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

Paramount owns the storied Melrose Avenue lot and Warner has a tony campus in Burbank.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 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

A motorcade of police escorted the 70-year-old from his home in the tony 16th arrondissement to the gates of Paris-La Santé prison in the heart of the French capital.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

“Curiosity. Or perhaps envy. We’re clearly dressed for an important party. We do look rather tony, don’t we, Marion?”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin