Tinny describes a thin, metallic sound that lacks richness or depth, like tapping on an empty tin can or listening to music through a cheap speaker. When audio sounds tinny, the high notes come through clearly but the low, warm tones are missing, making everything sound hollow and sharp.

You might notice tinny sound quality when using earbuds that cost only a few dollars, or when listening to an old recording made with basic equipment. A tinny voice on a phone call sounds flat and distant, missing the natural warmth of the person speaking right next to you. Musical instruments can sound tinny too: a guitar with old strings or a piano that needs tuning can produce that characteristic thin, metallic tone.

Tinny can also describe something made of tin or resembling tin, though this usage is less common. You might read about a tinny robot in an old science fiction story, meaning it's constructed from thin metal sheets.