sonic

adjective

son·​ic ˈsä-nik How to pronounce sonic (audio)
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)
sonically adverb

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 Throughout her career, Morris has reaped rewards for taking sonic risks. Hannah Summerhill, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2023 For Bed Maker, that means an interest in performing at nontraditional venues where sonic exploration is not only allowable but required. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023 As if potting up channels on a studio mixing board, the sounds blended into a symphony that soon blossomed into a sonic fullness, the soundtrack of a river in repose. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2023 To ensure the album reached its full sonic potential, Persia enlisted the expertise of mixing engineer George Seara, known for his work with industry heavyweights like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Shawn Mendes. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 6 Sep. 2023 That’s all there is to it — and even that plot doesn’t matter in a work that more or less eschews plot altogether to focus on pure visual and sonic sensations, certainly to the detriment of anyone looking for a good story. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2023 For this visual feast, producers banked on comedic actor Jon Pertwee to pick up the baton, or sonic screwdriver. Cameron K McEwan, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Aug. 2023 Christian Walls, 29, has been selling T-shirts and hats from a kiosk next to the Old State House for seven years, battling for sonic space for the last two. Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023 Perhaps that’s the reason that Nas adopted Bad Boy’s glossier sonic approach on his sophomore album, along with his new kingpin persona Nas Escobar. Al Shipley, Spin, 18 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonic was in 1918

Dictionary Entries Near sonic

Cite this Entry

“Sonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

sonic

adjective
son·​ic ˈsän-ik How to pronounce sonic (audio)
: using, produced by, or relating to sound waves

Medical Definition

sonic

adjective
son·​ic ˈsän-ik How to pronounce sonic (audio)
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
sonically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on sonic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!