hypersonic

adjective

hy·​per·​son·​ic ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-nik 

1

: of or relating to speed five or more times that of sound in air compare sonic

2

: moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents that move at hypersonic speed

hypersonic wind tunnel

hypersonically

ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of hypersonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Traveling at high speeds through the atmosphere, hypersonic missiles should generate tremendous heat, giving off a strong infrared signal to track from space. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2025

Trump’s selection for deputy defense secretary, the private-equity mogul Stephen Feinberg, is deemed to have credentials in the field by virtue of his investments in defense contractors, including a company that tests hypersonic missiles, a technology with a record of test failures. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

The weapon's exact type was still being analyzed, officials said, but its characteristics appeared similar to those of a hypersonic missile tested twice last year. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

As lasers advance to handle hypersonic missiles, the problem gets even worse. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hypersonic

• anharmonic
• anionic
• avionic
• catatonic
• cationic
• chorionic
• cosmogonic
• diachronic
• diatonic
• electronic
• embryonic
• excitonic