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

Payloads included two satellites for the Missile Defense Agency to track hypersonic missiles and four more satellites for the Tranche 0 constellation for the Space Development Agency. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026

Rocket Lab will perform 20 hypersonic test flights The signing of the latest contract is Rocket Lab’s single largest launch agreement yet. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026

As the 13th day of the Iran conflict draws to a close and with no end in sight, Iran is looking towards old tech to elevate its position in a war that has so far been dominated by hypersonic missiles. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026

Its primary mission is to defend against tactical ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and cruise missiles, while also addressing lower-level threats such as drones. —David Szondy march 12, New Atlas, 12 Mar. 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