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
Both models have the same sonic attributes, but the taller ESL 2912X generates greater scale and is suitable for larger rooms.
—
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The creator started digging as a teen, when a best friend from school would bring in Throbbing Gristle CDs, which inspired them to hunt for obscure sonic shards to offer in return.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 23 July 2025
The 21-track set features another sonic left turn for The Bieb, eschewing the widescreen pop sound of his Justice LP in favor of a softer, more intimate alt-R&B, inspired by collaborators like Dijon, Mk.gee, Eddie Benjamin and Carter Lang.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 22 July 2025
Update: This story has been changed to reflect that steel prison bars are also part of the sonic sculpture.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
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Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The creator started digging as a teen, when a best friend from school would bring in Throbbing Gristle CDs, which inspired them to hunt for obscure sonic shards to offer in return.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 23 July 2025
The 21-track set features another sonic left turn for The Bieb, eschewing the widescreen pop sound of his Justice LP in favor of a softer, more intimate alt-R&B, inspired by collaborators like Dijon, Mk.gee, Eddie Benjamin and Carter Lang.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 22 July 2025
Update: This story has been changed to reflect that steel prison bars are also part of the sonic sculpture.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 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 29 Jul. 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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