Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

hypersonic

American  
[hahy-per-son-ik] / ˌhaɪ pərˈsɒn ɪk /

adjective

  1. noting or pertaining to speed that is at least five times that of sound in the same medium.

hypersonic British  
/ ˌhaɪpəˈsɒnɪk /

adjective

  1. concerned with or having a velocity of at least five times that of sound in the same medium under the same conditions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
hypersonic Scientific  
/ hī′pər-sŏn′ĭk /

  1. Relating to or capable of speeds equal to or exceeding five times the speed of sound (Mach 5 and above).

  2. Compare subsonic supersonic transonic

Other Word Forms

  • hypersonics noun

Etymology

Origin of hypersonic

First recorded in 1935–40; hyper- + sonic

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.

There may be "exquisite unique hypersonic capabilities or other bespoke systems that could be used against specific targets," he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

In addition to drones, Kratos makes parts for solid rocket motors and hypersonic technologies.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

President Donald Trump last year ordered his administration to develop a plan for a space-based shield capable of intercepting ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, which he dubbed the “Golden Dome.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

It has contracts with drug companies and also the military, which tests technology at hypersonic speeds as the capsules return to Earth.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 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.