phonetic alphabet
noun
1
: a set of symbols (such as the IPA) used for phonetic transcription
2
: any of various systems of identifying letters of the alphabet by means of code words in voice communication
Examples of phonetic alphabet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then the military would name storms after its phonetic alphabet — Able, Baker, Charlie — but that was replaced by a system that was less confusing and easier to remember.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
The author of essays on phonetic alphabets, demography, paper currency.
—Adam Smyth, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024
Before the first wave of drivers loaded their vans, a second series of vans drove uniformly into the bay, parking one after another in rows of four in a launch pad dubbed bravo, like the phonetic alphabet used by the military.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
Storms were originally identified through a phonetic alphabet, such as Adam, Baker, Charlie, and the same names were used during subsequent hurricane seasons.
—The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
And most of these weren’t phonetic alphabets with consonants and vowels.
—Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023
At first, officials were using the phonetic alphabet to determine the storm names but switched to female-only names in 1953 - the legend about the change is that a member of the naming committee was angry with his spouse and wanted to name a storm after her.
—Mallory Nicholls, Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2022
Just a few months later, the ICAO also approved the revised version, now known as the NATO phonetic alphabet.
—Kimberly Hickok, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2022
Modern Korean follows a phonetic alphabet called Hangul, meaning the syllables are generally pronounced as they’re written – unlike non-phonetic languages such as Chinese, which uses symbols to represent specific meanings.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 17 Jan. 2023
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
The author of essays on phonetic alphabets, demography, paper currency.
—Adam Smyth, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024
Before the first wave of drivers loaded their vans, a second series of vans drove uniformly into the bay, parking one after another in rows of four in a launch pad dubbed bravo, like the phonetic alphabet used by the military.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
Storms were originally identified through a phonetic alphabet, such as Adam, Baker, Charlie, and the same names were used during subsequent hurricane seasons.
—The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
And most of these weren’t phonetic alphabets with consonants and vowels.
—Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023
At first, officials were using the phonetic alphabet to determine the storm names but switched to female-only names in 1953 - the legend about the change is that a member of the naming committee was angry with his spouse and wanted to name a storm after her.
—Mallory Nicholls, Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2022
Just a few months later, the ICAO also approved the revised version, now known as the NATO phonetic alphabet.
—Kimberly Hickok, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2022
Modern Korean follows a phonetic alphabet called Hangul, meaning the syllables are generally pronounced as they’re written – unlike non-phonetic languages such as Chinese, which uses symbols to represent specific meanings.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 17 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Phonetic alphabet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonetic%20alphabet. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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