phonetics
noun
pho·net·ics
fə-ˈne-tiks 
plural in form but singular in construction
1
: the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages
2
a
: the study and systematic classification of the sounds made in spoken utterance
b
: the practical application of this science to language study
Examples of phonetics in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An adaptation of the beloved musical about a phonetics professor who pompously takes it upon himself to transform a working-class Cockney girl (a marvelous Audrey Hepburn) into a paragon of high society.
—
Emily Burack, Town & Country, 26 Jan. 2023
School districts are returning to older ways of teaching, such as phonetics, as are some of the writers of curriculum that uses the whole language method.
—cleveland, 21 Dec. 2022
The book also includes an index of terms with phonetics and color coding.
—Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
While at Oxford, Hayes plans to study for graduate degrees in mathematical science as well as linguistics, philology and phonetics, according to the university.
—Ruth Serven Smith | Rserven@al.com, al, 23 Nov. 2021
The class is held on Wednesdays via Zoom and will be covering Moses-Columbian language history, phonetics/orthography, vocabulary, and grammar.
—oregonlive, 8 Oct. 2021
Francis Andrade, who lives in Woodbridge, Va., had planned to use the Barbie Pond display as a visual aide for her students, who are deaf children learning to communicate with their Hispanic parents through phonetics.
—Washington Post, 27 June 2021
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Emily Burack, Town & Country, 26 Jan. 2023
School districts are returning to older ways of teaching, such as phonetics, as are some of the writers of curriculum that uses the whole language method.
—cleveland, 21 Dec. 2022
The book also includes an index of terms with phonetics and color coding.
—Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
While at Oxford, Hayes plans to study for graduate degrees in mathematical science as well as linguistics, philology and phonetics, according to the university.
—Ruth Serven Smith | Rserven@al.com, al, 23 Nov. 2021
The class is held on Wednesdays via Zoom and will be covering Moses-Columbian language history, phonetics/orthography, vocabulary, and grammar.
—oregonlive, 8 Oct. 2021
Francis Andrade, who lives in Woodbridge, Va., had planned to use the Barbie Pond display as a visual aide for her students, who are deaf children learning to communicate with their Hispanic parents through phonetics.
—Washington Post, 27 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“Phonetics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonetics. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
phonetics
noun
pho·net·ics
fə-ˈnet-iks
: the study and classification of speech sounds
phonetician
noun
ˌfō-nə-ˈtish-ən
Medical Definition
phonetics
noun, plural in form but singular in construction
pho·net·ics
fə-ˈnet-iks
1
a
: the study and systematic classification of the sounds made in spoken utterance
b
: the practical application of this science to language study
2
: the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages
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