sound effect

American  

[saund i-fekt] / ˈsaʊnd ɪˌfɛkt /

noun

1. any sound, other than music or speech, artificially reproduced to create an effect in a dramatic presentation, as the sound of a storm or a creaking door. SFX

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sound effect British  

noun

1. any sound artificially produced, reproduced from a recording, etc, to create a theatrical effect, such as the bringing together of two halves of a hollow coconut shell to simulate a horse's gallop; used in plays, films, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sound effect

First recorded in 1925–30

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sound effect

In his “Phonetic Punctuation,” Borge read a story aloud and gave every comma and period its own sound effect.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

You hear the music of “Auld Lang Syne” on an old-timey organ, while John dons a Scottish accent and spins a tale about beasties while a wind sound effect blows in the background.

From Salon ● Dec. 23, 2025

By the time the faux fur lining is added and Rhett tries on the neck pillow, culminating in an unwanted baby sound effect, Shop TV has done it again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2025

I defenestrated the other half of the cake in the same manner, to similar sound effect.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 3, 2023

Kyle heard a WHIRR-DING! sound effect as his red battery icon glowed green and grew from nearly empty to completely full.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

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