acoustic

adjective

acous·​tic ə-ˈkü-stik 

variants or acoustical

ə-ˈkü-sti-kəl 

1

: of or relating to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sounds

acoustic apparatus of the ear

acoustic energy

: such as

a

: deadening or absorbing sound

acoustic tile

b

: operated by or utilizing sound waves

2

: of, relating to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electronically modified

acoustically

ə-ˈkü-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• audial
• audile
• auditory
• aural
• auricular

Examples of acoustic in a Sentence

the acoustic properties of a room

She loves listening to acoustic folk music.

an acoustic performance of a rock-and-roll song

Recent Examples on the Web

Kevin, with a dark acoustic guitar strapped to his chest, shook his head and bowed. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025

Its unique aural qualities (and the couple’s acoustic fixations) fall quickly by the wayside, making its very premise feel perfunctory. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025

Rounding out this roster is Colbie Caillat, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for her breezy acoustic pop. —Holly Alvarado, Orange County Register, 25 Jan. 2025

It is billed as an acoustic, strings-only show featuring arrangements of past works, reunited her with over 100 Icelandic musicians playing songs from Post, Vespertine and Dancer in the Dark soundtrack album, Selmasongs. —Jordan Riefe, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

acoustic borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, borrowed from Greek akoustikós, from akoustós "heard, audible" (verbal adjective of akoúein "to hear," going back to Indo-European *h₂kou̯s-) + -ikos -ic entry 1; acoustical from acoustic + -al entry 1 — more at hear

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing acoustic

• acoustic emission

Kids Definition

acoustic

adjective

acous·​tic ə-ˈkü-stik 

variants or acoustical

-sti-kəl 

1

: of or relating to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sounds: as

a

: deadening or absorbing sound

b

: operated by or using sound waves

2

: of, relating to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electronically modified

acoustic guitar

acoustically

-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

acoustic

adjective

acous·​tic ə-ˈkü-stik 

variants or acoustical

-sti-kəl 

: of or relating to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sounds

acoustic apparatus of the ear

acoustic energy

: as

a

: deadening or absorbing sound

acoustic tile

b

: operated by or utilizing sound waves

acoustically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb