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
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The album expanded the horizon of sonic possibility, blending the influences of artists such as Prince, Lauryn Hill, and Marvin Gaye with Erykah Badu, Pink Floyd, and Stevie Wonder — and it was all filtered through the soul and spirit of D’Angelo.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Gregerson’s shows her at the peak of her signature tercets, weaving together the microscopic and the grand threads of science, art, and history into wonderfully rich sonic landscapes.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Ryan expects the orchestra will use the sonic logo to herald the start of its new season, when someone is about to make a speech at a concert and other occasions.
—Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
For the Aurvana Ace 3 TWS earphones, Creative is going with a hybrid driver system for the xMEMS part of the sonic equation.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025
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Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Gregerson’s shows her at the peak of her signature tercets, weaving together the microscopic and the grand threads of science, art, and history into wonderfully rich sonic landscapes.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Ryan expects the orchestra will use the sonic logo to herald the start of its new season, when someone is about to make a speech at a concert and other occasions.
—Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
For the Aurvana Ace 3 TWS earphones, Creative is going with a hybrid driver system for the xMEMS part of the sonic equation.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 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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