hypersonic
Americanadjective
adjective
-
Relating to or capable of speeds equal to or exceeding five times the speed of sound (Mach 5 and above).
-
Compare subsonic supersonic transonic
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hypersonic
Compare meaning
How does hypersonic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But even with the new investment it is likely that an adversary armed with hypersonic missiles would be able to overwhelm Britain's defences.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Hermeus, which is developing hypersonic aircraft for the military, is moving its headquarters from Atlanta to El Segundo to access the Southern California aerospace talent pool.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Generally speaking, a hypersonic missile travels at least five times the speed of sound and can maneuver in flight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
The UUV technology is the first signature project under Aukus's Pillar Two, where the partner countries work together on "advanced capabilities" in areas such as long-range hypersonic missiles, undersea robotics and AI.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
But even with the errors, the machines processed the transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flows and trajectory analyses in a way that surpassed the upper limits of human ability.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
