tonic

1 of 2

noun

ton·​ic ˈtä-nik How to pronounce tonic (audio)
1
b
: an agent (such as a drug) that increases body tone
c
: one that invigorates, restores, refreshes, or stimulates
a day in the country was a tonic for him
d
: a liquid preparation for the scalp or hair
e
chiefly New England : a carbonated flavored beverage
2
: the first tone of a major or minor scale : keynote
3
: a voiced sound

tonic

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: characterized by tonus
tonic contraction of muscle
also : marked by prolonged muscular contraction
tonic convulsions
b
: producing or adapted to produce healthy muscular condition and reaction of organs (such as muscles)
2
a
: increasing or restoring physical or mental tone : refreshing
b
: yielding a tonic substance
3
: relating to or based on the first tone of a scale
tonic harmony
4
of a syllable : bearing a principal stress or accent
5
: of or relating to speech tones or to languages using them to distinguish words otherwise identical
tonically adverb

Examples of tonic in a Sentence

Adjective breathe in clear tonic mountain air never underestimate the tonic power of humor on a sick person
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Pemberton originally intended the beverage to be nerve and brain tonic and a medical elixir. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 Contacto Café Social Club serves iced concoctions of blood-orange syrup, tonic and espresso in a small-but-friendly coffee shop. Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Reagan features two roasters at a time — currently Heart Coffee Roasters from Portland, Ore., and Supersonic Coffee of Berkeley, Calif., Espresso are the focus — and also offers specialty drinks like his espresso tonic. Anne Brockhoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 Mystic Journey Bookstore is the spot to go for all crystals and ritual objects, and Anima Mundi is a modern-day herbal apothecary with a tonic bar and medicinal herbal garden. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024 Her masks, moisturizers, serums, and tonics are specifically designed to nourish and protect. Sophie Prideaux, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2024 Quaffing gin and tonics, Johnnie Walker Black Label and mediocre white wine, the revelers moved to the beat laid down by the DJ and the evening’s headliner, the early 2000s hit rapper Ja Rule. Michael Smith, Fortune, 3 Feb. 2024 But what a fresh tonic and a delight to read a book that also allows for its wonders. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2023 Made with a non-alcoholic apéritif, charred grapefruit and tonic, the drink carries the complex anise, citrus and bitter notes of a boozy negroni without the alcohol. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Research has found that turmeric supplements may delay the onset of tonic-clonic seizures as well as myoclonic jerks. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022 Across the courtyard from the tonic bar is an indoor/outdoor smoking space about the size of all three cabanas smooshed together and an eastern-facing glass wall that slides open. Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022 Then came the tonic-clonic seizures, which are full body seizures. Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2022 Perhaps going back eight centuries had a tonic effect on Dunham. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2022 Each of Erewhon’s seven locations has a tonic bar that serves a variety of smoothies. Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2022 Expect an activation from The Emerald Cup paying homage to winners from the recent Emerald Cup Awards, a tonic bar from Space Gems, and a wellness and movement schedule by Lucky Box Club. Lindsey Bartlett, Forbes, 12 July 2022 His plays are a tonic reminder to artists across disciplines that lives are lived not in headlines but in passing moments. Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022 Guests would take the service elevator to the spa area, where Turkish-style shampoos and showers or a tonic bath cost $1.50 (roughly $25 today). Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Greek tonikos, from tonos tension, tone

First Known Use

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tonic was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near tonic

Cite this Entry

“Tonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tonic

1 of 2 adjective
ton·​ic ˈtän-ik How to pronounce tonic (audio)
1
: making (as the mind or body) stronger or healthier
2
: relating to or based on the first tone of a scale
tonic chord
tonic harmony

tonic

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a medicine that increases body tone
b
: a liquid to be used on the hair or scalp
c
chiefly New England : soda pop
2
: the first tone of a scale

Medical Definition

tonic

1 of 2 adjective
ton·​ic ˈtän-ik How to pronounce tonic (audio)
1
a
: characterized by tonus
tonic contraction of muscle
also : marked by or being prolonged muscular contraction
tonic convulsions
b
: producing or adapted to produce healthy muscular condition and reaction of organs (as muscles)
2
a
: increasing or restoring physical or mental tone
b
: yielding a tonic substance
tonically adverb

tonic

2 of 2 noun
: an agent (as a drug) that increases body tone

More from Merriam-Webster on tonic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!