sonar

noun

so·​nar ˈsō-ˌnär 

: 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

Examples of sonar in a Sentence

They detected the submarine by using sonar.

Recent Examples on the Web

After police K-9s tracked Romero’s scent to Vista Del Camino Park, police searched the lake with sonar and drones but found no trace of the missing man, AZFamily reported. —Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026

Long before satellites and sonar, entire cities vanished beneath water—some swallowed by earthquakes, others slowly erased by the sea. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026

Both listening and active sonar can be foiled by coating the boat with rubber tiles, which absorb noise coming from inside the hull and soak up sonar beams striking the vessel. —New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025

One of those early productions on forward-facing sonar use has attracted nearly 300,000 views alone. —Craig Bihrle, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

sound navigation ranging

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sonar

• side-scan sonar

Kids Definition

sonar

noun

so·​nar ˈsō-ˌnär 

: a device for detecting the presence and location of submerged objects (as submarines) by sound waves