: 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
The two guides went back to hunting lunkers with their forward-facing sonar, and before the team from Texas Parks and Wildlife showed, the pair of guides had scored big on bigmouths.
—
Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 Mar. 2026
Helicopters and advanced sonar were used to find and neutralize simulated underwater targets.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Using one of the company’s autonomous underwater vehicles, researchers conducted high-resolution scans of the Monitor using techniques including circular synthetic aperture sonar (CSAS).
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
New high-solution sonar images captured by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman have revealed the ironclad USS Monitor retains significant details, despite sitting more than 160 years on the seabed.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sonar
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Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 Mar. 2026
Helicopters and advanced sonar were used to find and neutralize simulated underwater targets.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Using one of the company’s autonomous underwater vehicles, researchers conducted high-resolution scans of the Monitor using techniques including circular synthetic aperture sonar (CSAS).
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
New high-solution sonar images captured by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman have revealed the ironclad USS Monitor retains significant details, despite sitting more than 160 years on the seabed.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sonar
Cite this Entry
“Sonar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonar. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sonar
noun
so·nar
ˈsō-ˌnär 
: a device for detecting the presence and location of submerged objects (as submarines) by sound waves
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