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

Here was a kid who played sports at a high level since childhood, who studied global sports in London and Seville, Spain, and plans to do his senior thesis on hypersonic aircraft. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025

Two Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles reportedly hit the Ukrainian city of Sumy in an industrial zone on Friday morning. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025

Professor Nicholaus Parziale and team at the Stevens Institute of Technology in the US have offered experimental proof for a long-standing hypothesis that could simplify the design of hypersonic aircraft. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025

Russia's latest bombardment included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, according to Ukrainian authorities. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

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