sonar

noun so·nar \ ˈsō-ˌnär \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of sonar

: a method or device for detecting and locating objects especially underwater by means of sound waves sent out to be reflected by the objects; also : a device for detecting the presence of a vessel (such as a submarine) by the sound it emits in water

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Examples of sonar in a Sentence

They detected the submarine by using sonar.

Recent Examples of sonar from the Web

Detectives conducted the new search using ground penetrating sonar to guide them on where to dig, which led them to the remains in March.

— travis fedschun, Fox News, "Skeletal remains on Long Island identified as Louise Pietrewicz, missing since 1966," 5 Apr. 2018
The pond had already had a drone fly over it several times, and officers also checked it for signs of a vehicle, according to Filenko, and the Grayslake Fire Department also used sonar to search the pond and divers also searched the waters.

— frank abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "'It's a real mystery': Pond search near Grayslake yields no evidence of elderly man missing since March 4," 14 Mar. 2018
Options included $1,610 for Premium and Technology Package, heating the seats, adding more climate-control touches, and rear-parking sonar and cross-traffic alert; $650 for Towing Package; more options discussed throughout.

— scott sturgis, Philly.com, "Aging Tacoma loads of fun but has an unexpected downside," 12 Mar. 2018
Police searched 13 ponds with a drone boat using sonar technology until the car was detected in a pond on Perry Road in Plainfield.

— eric weddle, Indianapolis Star, "How to escape a sinking car," 7 Mar. 2018
Employing a salvage company, side scan sonar, magnetometers, and divers, the team searched the length of Bayou Canot and came up empty.

— ben raines, AL.com, "Wreck found by reporter may be last American slave ship, archaeologists say," 23 Jan. 2018
The new geophysical data, acquired using state-of-the-art shipboard sonar and published online earlier this year in Eos, span 2,500 kilometers of seabed.

— terri cook, Scientific American, "Hunt for Flight MH370 Takes Searchers into Uncharted Territory," 1 July 2017
Rescuers tried to find that person under the water using sonar, said Capt.

— aimee green, OregonLive.com, "Clothes floating in Willamette River might have led rescuers on wild goose chase," 17 Mar. 2018
Optional is intelligent clearance sonar with a new rear cross traffic braking system.

— g. chambers williams iii, Houston Chronicle, "Stylishly redesigned Toyota Camry has lots of new technology, features," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sonar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sonar

sound navigation ranging

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1943

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SONAR Defined for English Language Learners

sonar

noun

Definition of sonar for English Language Learners

: a device used for finding things that are underwater by using sound waves

SONAR Defined for Kids

sonar

noun so·nar \ ˈsō-ˌnär \

Definition of sonar for Students

: a device for detecting objects underwater using reflected sound waves

Learn More about sonar

See words that rhyme with sonar Spanish Central: Translation of sonar Nglish: Translation of sonar for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sonar

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sonar

Definition of sonar

Examples of sonar in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sonar from the Web

Origin and Etymology of sonar

SONAR Defined for English Language Learners

sonar

Definition of sonar for English Language Learners

SONAR Defined for Kids

sonar

Definition of sonar for Students

Learn More about sonar

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