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

Japan plans to test its rail gun, which uses electricity to fire projectiles, aiming to enhance its defense against Chinese and North Korean hypersonic missiles, according to local media. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

This successful follow-up mission, recently undertaken on March 24 of this year, follows in the wake of the Talon-A2 vehicle's initial first hypersonic flight and runway recovery back on Dec. 20, 2024. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 May 2025

Second, hypersonic vehicles come in a couple of variations. —ArsTechnica, 6 May 2025

In the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine war, many analysts predicted that Russia would rely heavily on hypersonic missiles to strike key Ukrainian targets. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 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