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

The double bass’s low-frequency sound waves help create a balanced sonic spectrum, supporting the higher frequencies produced by other instruments. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026

Sonos Noise Cancelling Headphones Deal The Sonos Ace Headphones deliver supreme sonic detachment with world-class Active Noise Cancellation and Dolby Atmos spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026

Marking 10 years of its record label Deadbeats, Return to the Return (of the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness) feels as much a reflection point as a reinstatement of the group’s dedication to sonic experiments. — Kat Bein, SPIN, 7 July 2026

But there’s no sonic or thematic through line that unites Morgan Wallen, sombr, Tate McRae, Leon Thomas, Benson Boone, Olivia Dean, Rosé, and Bruno Mars—the artists in his 2025 year-end mix. — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 5 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sonic

• sonic barrier
• sonic boom

Rhymes for sonic

• chronic
• clonic
• conic
• phonic
• tonic
• anharmonic
• anionic
• avionic
• catatonic
• cationic
• chorionic
• cosmogonic

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