onomatopoeia

noun

on·​o·​mato·​poe·​ia ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-ˈpē-ə 

-ˌma-

1

: the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (such as buzz, hiss)

also : a word formed by onomatopoeia

In comic books, when you see someone with a gun, you know it's only going off when you read the onomatopoeias.

—Christian Marclay

2

: the use of words whose sound suggests the sense

a study of the poet's onomatopoeia

onomatopoeic

ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-ˈpē-ik 

-ˌma-

adjective

or onomatopoetic

ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-pō-ˈe-tik 

-ˌma-

onomatopoeically

ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-ˈpē-ə-k(ə-)lē 

-ˌma-

adverb

or onomatopoetically

ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-pō-ˈe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˌma-

Did you know?

English speakers have only used the word onomatopoeia since the 1500s, but people have been creating words inspired by the sounds heard around them for much longer. It may not surprise you to learn that fizz, jingle, toot, and pop are onomatopoeic in origin, but did you know the same is true of bounce, tinker, and blimp? Boom! Now you do. In fact, the presence of so many imitative words in language spawned the linguistic bowwow theory, which postulates that language originated in the imitating of natural sounds. While it’s highly unlikely that onomatopoeia is the sole impetus for human language, it certainly made a mark, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Examples of onomatopoeia in a Sentence

The term hiccup is an example of onomatopoeia … —Fred Cicetti, Montague Reporter, 6 Mar. 2008

You might think it was an onomatopoeia of the sound a Frisbee makes as it moves through the air, but the name has been attributed for years to the Frisbie Pie Company of Bridgeport, Conn., which went out of business in 1958. —Mark Danna, Sports Illustrated, 11 May 1987

Buzz and hiss are examples of onomatopoeia.

Recent Examples on the Web

Dropping explosive onomatopoeia on enemies while the little girl giggles creates a laugh-out-level point of dissonance. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025

Assisted by cartoonishly indie flourishes, like words and other onomatopoeia scribed across the frame, the film’s slight, low-budget stylings allow for a greater concentration on character moments, usually by way of rapid-fire punchlines. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025

Green group — tolerate (BEAR, STAND, SWALLOW, TAKE) Blue group — bird onomatopoeia (COO, GOBBLE, HONK, HOOT) Purple group — starts of cell phone makers (APP, GOO, MOTOR, SAM) My first perfect game in a few days brought me my seventh straight win. —Kris Holt, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Her way with language, subject, and style taps into childhood and childlike play, echoing pedagogical strategies tied to literacy like phonics and onomatopoeia. —Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024

To see the onomatopoeias appear in tiny bursts in the grid was the goal. —Sam Corbin, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024

Tom Wolfe is a literary icon for many reasons, not least his white suits and liberal use of onomatopoeia. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomat-, onoma name + poiein to make — more at poet

First Known Use

circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Video

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

Kids Definition

onomatopoeia

noun

on·​o·​mato·​poe·​ia ˌän-ə-ˌmat-ə-ˈpē-(y)ə 

1

: the naming of a thing or action by imitation of natural sounds (as "buzz" or "hiss")

2

: the use of words whose sound suggests the sense (as for poetic effect)

onomatopoeic

-ˈpē-ik 

adjective

or onomatopoetic

-pō-ˈet-ik