hypersonic

adjective

hy·​per·​son·​ic ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-nik How to pronounce hypersonic (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of hypersonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In 2022, the Commission surprised many in Brussels and Paris by awarding the initial hypersonic interceptor research contract, worth about 110 million euros, to the Sener-Diehl team instead of MBDA, which was widely viewed as the favorite. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025 Beijing already operates thousands of high-end ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles that would be used to strike U.S. forward bases, aircraft carriers, tanker aircraft, and other key large assets. Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025 The Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security Act would give the administration the ability to block investments in key technologies like semiconductors, microelectronics, AI, quantum, high-performance computing and supercomputing and hypersonic systems. Julia Shapero, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2025 Space debris travels at hypersonic speeds of approximately 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 km/h) in low Earth orbit. Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hypersonic

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypersonic was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Hypersonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypersonic. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.

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