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
Forget about using repellants or sonic devices.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Abumrad and his team manage to encompass the full spectrum of Kuti’s music—its blending of sonic traditions and narrative lyricism—through expressive sound design.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
The integration of sonic vibration and mechanical massage improves blood and lymphatic flow.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The idea, Minogue explains, was to try and blend her own sonic palette with classic Christmas fare without watering down either sound.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sonic
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Abumrad and his team manage to encompass the full spectrum of Kuti’s music—its blending of sonic traditions and narrative lyricism—through expressive sound design.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
The integration of sonic vibration and mechanical massage improves blood and lymphatic flow.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The idea, Minogue explains, was to try and blend her own sonic palette with classic Christmas fare without watering down either sound.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 11 Dec. 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 28 Dec. 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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