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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According to the team, this new material can have important applications in things like hypersonic vehicle skins. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Dec. 2025 Space debris travels at hypersonic speeds of approximately 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 km/h) in low Earth orbit. Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025 Not only that, but flying at hypersonic speeds can result in the missile being surrounded by a halo of ionized plasma that can effectively block incoming signals. New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025 The timeline of advanced systems for the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, which handles its growing arsenal of ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, could be exposed, along with aerospace and cyber programs, said SIPRI researcher Xiao Liang. Reuters 20 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 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 16 Dec. 2025.

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