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
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Armed with an arsenal of reggaeton grooves and relatable lyrics, the singer born Carolina Giraldo Navarro conquered the charts and endeared herself to legions of fans with her sonic confessionals of love and self-empowerment. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 May 2025 Synergy In The Signal Chain When used together, the NAD M33 V2 and M23 V2 provide an end-to-end NAD solution that has NAD’s Masters Series philosophy of benchmark innovation, intuitive control and sonic performance that rivals boutique brands but without the price markup. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Their musical journey dates back to 2006, when Elsa leaned into her sonic ambitions as a way to help her process and move through some of her childhood trauma stemming from physical abuse from outside her immediate family. Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 Wear Repellents No matter what the hype, candles, sonic devices, and bracelets don’t keep mosquitoes away. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sonic

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonic was in 1918

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Cite this Entry

“Sonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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

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