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

Using those sounds to create a sonic palette, Karijord then wrote a melody to go on top that. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2026

With the level of skill and talent in the room and Fagen’s neurotic focus, The Nightfly would be a glimmering sonic masterpiece, even as his material looked back to the days of two-track recordings mixed to mono. — Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 8 Nov. 2026

Sound designer Natsuko Inoue and production and post-production sound mixer Hisafumi Takeuchi constantly found ways to tie the most fantastical moments back to Earth, because that sonic believability keeps the audience invested in the action. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026

The band’s sonic palette and songwriting show impressive growth here, but their lyrics have grown much darker. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 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