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

High, Lonesome and Then Some, released in October 2025, had been a sonic experiment in slow, mellow country melodies. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026

But the songs also carry the heaviness of Seattle’s sonic palette too. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026

New wave and arena rock elements live alongside traditional R&B, bedroom pop and electronic moments, and Lenae, rightfully, wants the full expanse of the album’s sonic identity to be accurately represented when it’s discussed. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026

Almost a decade later, in the impressive An Occupation of Loss (2016), Simon recruited professional mourners to reenact their bereavement customs in a sonic performance. — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 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