Meaning & use
Sony
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
A Japanese multinational company known for electronics, video games, music, and film.
Grammar: Always capitalized; usually takes a singular verb when referring to the company as a single entity.
Patterns
- Sony has released something
- Sony is known for something
Sony has announced a new PlayStation console.
I bought a Sony camera for my trip to Japan.
Sony's music division signed a new artist last month.
nouncountabletrademark
A brand name used for products made by the Sony Corporation.
Grammar: Often used before another noun to describe a product, e.g., a Sony TV.
Patterns
- a Sony product
- a Sony device
He listens to music on his Sony headphones.
The Sony television in the living room is very old.
Common combinations
- Sony PlayStation
- Sony PlayStation is a popular gaming console.
- Sony Music
- Sony Music represents many famous singers.
- Sony Pictures
- Sony Pictures produced that award-winning film.
- Sony electronics
- Sony electronics are known for their high quality.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Sony' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is 'Sony has released a new smartphone.' because 'Sony' is a proper noun and should be capitalized, and it takes a singular verb when referring to the company. Option 1 is incorrect because 'sony' is not capitalized. Option 2 is incorrect because 'Sony' as a company is usually singular in American English. Option 4 is incorrect because 'sony' is not capitalized and 'the sony' is not a standard way to refer to the brand.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Sony”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.