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

Why Arc's hypersonic speed could change aerospace testing Beyond rapid delivery, Arc doubles as a hypersonic testing platform. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025

In addition to emergency supply missions, Inversion claims that Arc could be used as an advanced hypersonic test platform. —David Szondy october 13, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2025

Other weapons on display included shorter-range ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, which the North previously described as capable of delivering nuclear strikes against targets in South Korea. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025

The Kim regime has been testing hypersonic glide vehicles since at least September 2021. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 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