bon ton \bōⁿtōⁿ, (ˈ)bänˈtän\noun (pluralbon tons) Etymology: French, literally, good tone 1.: stylishness, fashionableness < the worldliness and bon ton of the characters … held me spellbound — S.J.Perelman > 2.: the fashionable or proper thing < the bon ton here is to be grave and learned — Horace Walpole > 3.: a fashionable social set