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

Beijing fields one of the world’s largest missile fleets and has taken the lead over Washington in hypersonic missile technology—maneuverable weapons that travel more than five times the speed of sound. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

The timing fits in with recent high-profile demonstrations of new ballistic and hypersonic systems and acknowledged long-range tests, reinforcing that China is progressing in several areas. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025

China’s ambitious space program last year brought back the world’s first samples from the far side of the moon; the country is at the cutting edge of fields like renewable energy and quantum communications as well as military technologies like hypersonic missiles. —Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025

Interceptor drones provide Ukraine with a practical means to neutralize the Shahed threat while conserving high-value air defense assets for use against cruise and hypersonic missiles. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 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