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
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
Her latest story focuses on a phonetic alphabet created by early Latter-day Saints in Utah.
—Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 May 2022
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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
Her latest story focuses on a phonetic alphabet created by early Latter-day Saints in Utah.
—Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Phonetic alphabet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonetic%20alphabet. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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