tinny

Tinny is an English adjective with multiple related senses. It can describe objects that are made of tin or resemble tin in composition. It is also used to describe a sound or tone that is thin, metallic, and hollow, lacking warmth, depth, or resonance. In casual use, tinny can convey that something feels cheaply made or insubstantial.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from tin, the metal, with the -y suffix forming an adjective. It is commonly applied to auditory impressions and is frequently found in reviews of audio equipment, music, or speech where the sound is perceived as overly bright, piercing, or lacking in body. It can also describe the tone of a musical instrument or a recording that emphasizes high frequencies at the expense of bass and mids.

In audio and media contexts: A tinny playback typically results from small or low-quality speakers, limited recording bandwidth, or unfavorable acoustic environments. People might note a tinny singer, a tinny drum kit, or a tinny radio broadcast, meaning the sound quality is unsatisfactory in a way that resembles listening through a thin metal container.

Related terms: Metallic, shrill, hollow, thin-sounding. The term is subjective and context-dependent; what sounds tinny to one listener may be less so to another, depending on expectations and reference equipment.

See also: tin, tinplate, sound quality, acoustics.