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 goal of the project is not only to build an aircraft capable of surpassing the Blackbird's records, but also to act as a testbed for critical technologies needed for routine, sustained hypersonic flight. —David Szondy may 28, New Atlas, 28 May 2026

The attack involved nearly 100 missiles – including an Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile – and 600 drones. —Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 28 May 2026

These tracking satellites will fly much closer to Earth than the Space Force’s legacy missile-warning satellites, with improved capability to monitor emerging threats like hypersonic missiles. —ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada was moving forward with the Swedish firm’s bid for the contract, part of a system that aims to protect the continent’s airspace from hypersonic or cruise missiles. —Laura Dhillon Kane, Bloomberg, 27 May 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