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
This technology uses a thin membrane in a magnetic field to create sonic vibrations.
—
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Forget about using home remedies such as essential oils or sonic devices.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2025
Their sonic range can go anywhere from mellow, feel-good acoustics to strained vocals over hard-hitting electric guitar riffs.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Over his now decade-and-a-half-long career, fans of the alt-pop auteur—real name Mike Hadreas—have only seen his work grow in scale and power, evolving from twinkling piano bedroom ballads to ambitious blasts of sonic splendor that careen through the gray areas between genre.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sonic
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Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Forget about using home remedies such as essential oils or sonic devices.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2025
Their sonic range can go anywhere from mellow, feel-good acoustics to strained vocals over hard-hitting electric guitar riffs.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Over his now decade-and-a-half-long career, fans of the alt-pop auteur—real name Mike Hadreas—have only seen his work grow in scale and power, evolving from twinkling piano bedroom ballads to ambitious blasts of sonic splendor that careen through the gray areas between genre.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 31 Mar. 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 13 Apr. 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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