hypersonic

adjective

hy·​per·​son·​ic ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-nik How to pronounce hypersonic (audio)
1
: of or relating to speed five or more times that of sound in air compare sonic
2
: moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents that move at hypersonic speed
hypersonic wind tunnel
hypersonically adverb

Examples of hypersonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Payloads included two satellites for the Missile Defense Agency to track hypersonic missiles and four more satellites for the Tranche 0 constellation for the Space Development Agency. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin described the missile as a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), able to travel long distances at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 The Missiles and Fire Control Division works on missile defense, tactical missiles, hypersonic weapons and air defense systems like the PAC-3 and THAAD. Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 2 June 2025 The whole idea was to speed up progress while reducing risks and costs by working on a series of prototypes that were each a new iteration of the technology designed to operate in a particular realm – on the ground, then subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight. David Szondy may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hypersonic

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypersonic was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Hypersonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypersonic. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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