sonic

adjective

son·​ic ˈsä-nik 

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

ˈsä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

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

To call Ken a sonic genius isn’t stretching things too far because the team at Campfire Audio has been making superb IEMs for more than a decade and the Astrolith are the brand’s latest model and, in my opinion, probably the best yet. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

Ferg and Browz incorporate specific sonic elements and chants to signal to all the real steppers that this is the song for them. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 13 Sep. 2024

There’s also a peak vulnerability that Beth [Gibbons] achieves here in her vocals that is so beautiful in this bleak, harsh sonic landscape, like a lost heroine in a dark forest. —Liza Lentini, SPIN, 13 Sep. 2024

How to use: After wetting your face, apply cleanser directly to the tool and turn it on to activate the sonic pulsations. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sonic

• sonic barrier
• sonic boom

Kids 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

sonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb