hypersonic

adjective

hy·​per·​son·​ic ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-nik 

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

ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of hypersonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each tube can hold three CPS missiles, so the ship will be able to carry up to 12 hypersonic weapons when the system is ready. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026

Kyiv was hit with about 40 Iskander-M and hypersonic Zircon missiles. — Anniek Bao,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 July 2026

The strikes included the use of 38 Iskander ballistic missiles and six Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, according to open-source intelligence, both of which are particularly difficult to intercept. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026

The company will support static-fire testing, hypersonic vehicles, kinetic effectors, energetics handling, and destructive testing. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hypersonic

• anharmonic
• anionic
• avionic
• catatonic
• cationic
• chorionic
• cosmogonic
• diachronic
• diatonic
• electronic
• embryonic
• excitonic