sibilant

American  

[sib-uh-luhnt] / ˈsɪb ə lənt /

adjective

1. hissing.

2. Phonetics. characterized by a hissing sound; noting sounds like those spelled with s in this rose pressure pleasure and certain similar uses of ch, sh, z, zh, etc.

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noun

1. Phonetics. a sibilant consonant.

sibilant British  

/ ˈsɪbɪlənt /

adjective

1. phonetics relating to or denoting the consonants (s, z, / ʃ /, / ʒ /), all pronounced with a characteristic hissing sound

2. having a hissing sound

   the sibilant sound of wind among the leaves

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noun

1. a sibilant consonant

Other Word Forms

• nonsibilant
  adjective
• nonsibilantly
  adverb
• sibilance
  noun
• sibilancy
  noun
• sibilantly
  adverb
• subsibilant
  adjective
• subsibilantly
  adverb
• unsibilant
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sibilant

First recorded before 1660–70; from Latin sībilant- (stem of sībilāns ), present participle of sībilāre “to hiss”), equivalent to sībil(us) “a hissing, whistling” (imitative of the sound) + -ant- adjective suffix; see -ant

Explanation

Something that’s sibilant has a hissing sound, like when the librarian says, “Shhhhhhhh!” Sibilant entered English in the 17th century from the Latin word sibilant-, meaning “hissing.” When you listen to a foreign language that’s full of hissy “es” or “sh” or “zzz” sounds, those sounds are called sibilants. The sound is made by forcing air out toward your teeth. Try it: say “sash.” That’s a sibilant. As an adjective, use sibilant to describe something characterized by that hissing sound. Your sibilant whisper probably will be heard by the librarian.

Example Sentences

Sibilant Hildegarde sings the Gertrude Lawrence part of the Hart-Gershwin-Weill musical.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sibilant, wicked, it sounded again, and then a yellow streak slid across the trail and disappeared under a low bush.

From I Married a Ranger by Smith, Dama Margaret

Sibilant voices cut through the evening air like thin-edged knives clashing against the grating screech of the ungreased wooden wheels of dak carts.

From Insidekick by Bone, Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin)

Sibilant, rougher, with a hint of menace as it issued forth the signal was answered this time, and with a thrill of wonder the mantle of the old life fell upon Michael once more.

From Lo, Michael! by Hill, Grace Livingston