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

In 2023, the Lockheed Martin version of HAWC flew faster than Mach 5, above 60,000 feet and over 300 nautical miles, providing data for subsequent Air Force hypersonic programs. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

In May 2026, his team canceled the deployment to Europe of an army task force equipped with the new Dark Eagle hypersonic weapons system, which would have threatened important military targets in Russia and thus strengthened deterrence. — Franklin C. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 15 Sep. 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