tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtō-nᵊl 

1

: of or relating to tone, tonality, or tonicity

2

: having tonality

tonally

ˈtō-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of tonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the first mid-top Air Jordan 11 collaboration, the premium tonal styles have been well-received ahead of their in-store availability. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026

There’s a tonal tug-of-war in this movie between naughtiness and aching sincerity. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026

But the payoff is mordantly effective, and the film’s fine sense of gallows humor gives it some welcome tonal breadth. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

By the late 19th century, however, some composers began to stretch the limits of tonal harmony through increasingly complex chromaticism. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

tone entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tonal

• clonal
• sonal
• zonal
• atonal
• coronal
• hormonal
• umbonal
• veronal
• embryonal
• monoclonal
• polyclonal

Kids Definition

tonal

adjective

ton·​al ˈtōn-ᵊl 

: of or relating to a musical tone

tonally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb