1
: utilizing, produced by, or relating to sound waves
sonic altimeter
broadly
: of or involving sound
sonic pollution
2
: having a frequency within the audibility range of the human ear
—used of waves and vibrations
3
: of, relating to, or being the speed of sound in air or about 761 miles per hour (1224 kilometers per hour) at sea level at 59°F (15°C)
Did you know?
A sonic boom is an explosive sound created by a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft. In 1947 a plane piloted by Chuck Yeager burst the "sound barrier" and created the first sonic boom. In the decades afterward sonic booms became a familiar sound to Americans. (Because of steps that were eventually taken, sonic booms are rarely heard anymore.) Today sonic is often used by ambitious rock musicians to describe their experimental sounds.
Examples of sonic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hard Rock Stadium will be sonic-loud.
—
Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
The film features an original score by 2025 Pulitzer Prize for music winner Susie Ibarra, who collaborated closely with Rocero to create the sonic landscape.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
But indie’s values—valorizing authentic self-expression and sonic exploration—probably did shape the desires of a generation of listeners.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Even with the lengthy track list, every song feels purposeful, each its own reflection of the musician’s unique sonic landscape.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
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Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
The film features an original score by 2025 Pulitzer Prize for music winner Susie Ibarra, who collaborated closely with Rocero to create the sonic landscape.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
But indie’s values—valorizing authentic self-expression and sonic exploration—probably did shape the desires of a generation of listeners.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Even with the lengthy track list, every song feels purposeful, each its own reflection of the musician’s unique sonic landscape.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sonic
Cite this Entry
“Sonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sonic
adjective
son·ic
ˈsän-ik 
: using, produced by, or relating to sound waves
Medical Definition
sonic
adjective
son·ic
ˈsän-ik
1
: having a frequency within the audibility range of the human ear
—used of waves and vibrations
2
: utilizing, produced by, or relating to sound waves
a sonic device used to rupture cell walls
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