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

The agency wants an interceptor capable of addressing ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

Changes in the geopolitical situation and advances in military fields like hypersonic weapon systems are driving a push for deployable launch infrastructure. — David Szondy august 15, New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2026

Hypersonic launch capabilities enhance the new Virginia class further, analysts said, noting that testing of a hypersonic glide vehicle is well underway. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

But a growing number these days are performed by HASTE, a suborbital variant of Electron that allows customers to test technologies in a hypersonic flight environment. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Aug. 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