ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tony

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtoʊni// UK //tˈəʊni// tony Archaic Informal

adj. stylish, expensive, or high-class. You use this to describe things like fancy restaurants or elegant clothes that look like they cost a lot of money.

adj. fashionable, stylish, or high-toned in a way that suggests wealth or social status. Informal in register; often used to describe establishments or personal styles.


SIMPLE

They stayed at a very tony hotel near the park.

CONTEXTUAL

The neighborhood is known for its tony boutiques and expensive art galleries that cater to the city's elite.

COMPLEX

While the rest of the district remains industrial, this specific street has been transformed by tony developments and high-end bistros aimed at young professionals.

Origin

Clipping of Anthony /Antony. The statuettes awarded by the American Theatre Wing are formally known as “Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre”; they are named for Antoinette Perry (1888–1946), an actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, who was nicknamed Tony.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun.

© 2026 English Reference