tawny

1 of 2

adjective

taw·​ny ˈtȯ-nē How to pronounce tawny (audio)
ˈtä-nē
tawnier; tawniest
Synonyms of tawny
1
: of the color tawny
2
: of a warm sandy color
the lion's tawny coat
tawniness noun

tawny

2 of 2

noun

plural tawnies
: a brownish-orange to light brown color

Synonyms of tawny

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Adjective

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Examples of tawny in a Sentence

Adjective the tawny coat of a lion
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Rain streamed from their whiskers and soaked their tawny coats. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 Her makeup, meanwhile, consisted of tawny eyeshadow, and a matte pink-nude lip. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
The dropping, distant tawny on the far side of Coombe Wood. — Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025 With black markings around his eyes and framing his white muzzle, the tawny, sleek lion was often caught on wildlife cameras mid-prowl. — Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for tawny

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French tané, tauné, literally, tanned, from past participle of tanner to tan

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tawny was in the 14th century

Rhymes for tawny

See All Rhymes for tawny

Browse Nearby Words

tawniness
tawny
tawny birch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tawny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tawny. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tawny

1 of 2 adjective
taw·​ny ˈtȯ-nē How to pronounce tawny (audio)
ˈtän-ē
tawnier; tawniest
: of the color tawny
tawniness noun

tawny

2 of 2 noun
plural tawnies
: a brownish orange to light brown color

More from Merriam-Webster on tawny

Nglish: Translation of tawny for Spanish Speakers

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