This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
sibilant
[ sib-uh-luhnt ]
/ ˈsɪb ə lənt /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
Phonetics. characterized by a hissing sound; noting sounds like those spelled with s in this [this], /ðɪs/, rose [rohz], /roʊz/, pressure [presh-er], /ˈprɛʃ ər/, pleasure [plezh-er], /ˈplɛʒ ər/, and certain similar uses of ch, sh, z, zh, etc.
noun
Phonetics. a sibilant consonant.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
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
OTHER WORDS FROM sibilant
Words nearby sibilant
Siberian ruby, Siberian squill, Siberian wallflower, siberite, sibilance, sibilant, sibilate, Sibirʾ, Sibiu, sibling, sibling species
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use sibilant in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for sibilant
sibilant
/ (ˈsɪbɪlənt) /
adjective
phonetics relating to or denoting the consonants (s, z, / ʃ /, / ʒ /), all pronounced with a characteristic hissing sound
having a hissing soundthe sibilant sound of wind among the leaves
noun
a sibilant consonant
Derived forms of sibilant
sibilance or sibilancy, nounsibilantly, adverbWord Origin for sibilant
C17: from Latin sībilāre to hiss, of imitative origin; compare Greek sizein to hiss
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