sonic boom

noun

: a sound resembling an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground

called also sonic bang

Examples of sonic boom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Could the similarities confuse California residents who might mistake a sonic boom for an earthquake? ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025 Last year, military officials rejected calls to reduce sonic booms coming from SpaceX rockets in the area, which have been increasing in frequency. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025 This generates shock waves, much like a fighter jet emitting a sonic boom. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2025 Boom Supersonic plans to make a supersonic airplane with a sonic boom that won't disturb people on the ground. Julian Dossett, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sonic boom

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonic boom was in 1952

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Cite this Entry

“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

sonic boom

noun
: a sound like that of an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground

More from Merriam-Webster on sonic boom

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