phonetics

noun

pho·​net·​ics fə-ˈne-tiks How to pronounce phonetics (audio)
plural in form but singular in construction
1
: the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages
2
a
: the study and systematic classification of the sounds made in spoken utterance
b
: the practical application of this science to language study

Examples of phonetics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An adaptation of the beloved musical about a phonetics professor who pompously takes it upon himself to transform a working-class Cockney girl (a marvelous Audrey Hepburn) into a paragon of high society. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 26 Jan. 2023 School districts are returning to older ways of teaching, such as phonetics, as are some of the writers of curriculum that uses the whole language method. cleveland, 21 Dec. 2022 The book also includes an index of terms with phonetics and color coding. Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022 While at Oxford, Hayes plans to study for graduate degrees in mathematical science as well as linguistics, philology and phonetics, according to the university. Ruth Serven Smith | Rserven@al.com, al, 23 Nov. 2021 The class is held on Wednesdays via Zoom and will be covering Moses-Columbian language history, phonetics/orthography, vocabulary, and grammar. oregonlive, 8 Oct. 2021 Francis Andrade, who lives in Woodbridge, Va., had planned to use the Barbie Pond display as a visual aide for her students, who are deaf children learning to communicate with their Hispanic parents through phonetics. Washington Post, 27 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phonetics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

phonet(ic) + -ics

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of phonetics was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near phonetics

Cite this Entry

“Phonetics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonetics. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

phonetics

noun
pho·​net·​ics fə-ˈnet-iks How to pronounce phonetics (audio)
: the study and classification of speech sounds
phonetician
ˌfō-nə-ˈtish-ən
noun

Medical Definition

phonetics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction
pho·​net·​ics fə-ˈnet-iks How to pronounce phonetics (audio)
1
a
: the study and systematic classification of the sounds made in spoken utterance
b
: the practical application of this science to language study
2
: the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages

More from Merriam-Webster on phonetics

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