supersonic
Americanadjective
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greater than the speed of sound waves through air.
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capable of achieving such speed.
a supersonic plane.
adjective
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Having a speed greater than that of sound in a designated medium, usually air; having a speed greater than Mach 1.
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Compare hypersonic subsonic transonic
Other Word Forms
- supersonically adverb
Etymology
Origin of supersonic
Compare meaning
How does supersonic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
It’s faster than the speed of sound, it’s supersonic! Seriously. Supersonic describes things that can travel faster than the speed of sound, like the passenger jet Concorde that used to zip from New York to London in under four hours. Anything supersonic is so fast that you see it before you hear it. A high-speed fighter jet is supersonic, but there aren't any supersonic passenger planes since Concorde's retirement in 2003. Space shuttles and modern bullets are still supersonic. Originally, the word supersonic meant "having to do with sound waves beyond human hearing," but by 1934 it described movement exceeding the speed of sound, with ultrasonic taking on the old meaning. Sonic comes from the Latin sonus, or "sound."
Vocabulary lists containing supersonic
Common Senses: Son ("Sound")
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for March 16–March 22, 2024
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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.
“The supersonic tsunami of AI is coming to finance,” said Pompliano, referencing a phrase used by Elon Musk to describe the impact of the new technology.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
But his supersonic speed and sky-high try-scoring rate – the easiest currency for casual fans to understand - mean those requests will only increase.
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
Known for: Highly maneuverable, supersonic light fighter, excellent dogfighting capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
I don’t want to go too deep into the plot, which involves a supersonic weapon, stolen software, assassins on motorcycles and a common ticking-clock device, but it’s closer to “Moonraker,” say, than “Slow Horses.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026
More than anything, I wanted to fly the sleek, swept-wing supersonic F-86, and I was delighted when I got my chance.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
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.
