supersonic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supersonic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe speeds that exceed the speed of sound, typically in contexts related to aviation or sound waves. Example: "The fighter jet flew at a supersonic speed, breaking the sound barrier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The monarch epitomised the mood of excess, womanising energetically and ordering nuclear reactors, a high-speed rail network and two Concorde supersonic jets.Iran sank a third of its oil revenues into military procurement from America, its chief partner, and also from Britain.

The Economist

They will be armed with advanced supersonic "Mosquito" missiles just the sort of thing to irk American admirals worried about China's ambitions in Taiwan.In this section Ivan the lethal Wanted: two million barrels The accidental messiah Nor any drop to drink Mitsubishi runs out of gas Screening Laser-guided ReprintsBut the success masks some awkward problems.

The Economist

The BrahMos, a joint Indian and Russian upgrade of the Yakhont, comes even closer to matching the Sizzler's effectiveness.These non-Western supersonic missiles are changing defence thinking.

The Economist

The upshot is that pairs of virtual phonons are appearing and disappearing all the time, and if one gets trapped inside a supersonic boundary, the other should be released into the wider world to make a noise.Dr Steinhauer and his colleagues have not yet detected sonic Hawking radiation, but they have taken the first step: they have produced a dumb hole.

The Economist

It was the first manned supersonic flight by a craft developed by a truly private effort.Even on today's calculations, a little bit of space tourism looks to be worthwhile.

The Economist

The boundary between the supersonic and the subsonic parts would act as an event horizon because a pair of phonons generated spontaneously at that boundary would be split as one was pulled away from the other in the faster-than-sound flow.Dr Steinhauer devised such an arrangement in 2010.

The Economist

The engine is a tube through which air flows at supersonic speeds.

The Economist

One thing is certain: unless the Europeans and Americans sit down to negotiate there will be nothing supersonic about the speed at which this dispute is resolved.

The Economist

Alternatively, the Europeans might cosy up to Japan, and a small, but significant, deal on supersonic technology signed between Japan and France at the Paris Air Show suggested that process has begun.

The Economist

Two Russian supersonic "Blackjack" bombers arrived in Venezuela in early September in what Mr Chávez said was a "warning" to the US.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The London Eye was always a brave and daring adventure, a throwback to 1951's Festival of Britain, held on the same site – an era when Britain could still claim to lead the world (just) in supersonic-era design and engineering.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about speed relative to sound, always clarify the medium (air, water, etc.) and conditions (temperature, pressure) since the speed of sound varies.

Common error

Avoid using "supersonic" when you mean "ultrasonic". "Supersonic" refers to exceeding the speed of sound, while "ultrasonic" describes frequencies above human hearing.

Linguistic Context

The word "supersonic" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate speeds exceeding that of sound. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, highlighting its role in describing the speed of objects like aircraft or missiles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supersonic" is an adjective used to describe speeds exceeding the speed of sound. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly found in News & Media, often describing aircraft, missiles, and other high-speed objects. While "supersonic" is well-established, related terms like "faster than sound" and "hypersonic" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts, the latter denoting even greater speeds. Distinguishing "supersonic" from "ultrasonic", which relates to sound frequency, is crucial for accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faster than sound

This alternative directly describes exceeding the speed of sound using simpler terminology.

exceeding the speed of sound

This is a more descriptive and technical way of expressing the same concept.

traveling at supersonic speed

This rephrases "supersonic" by specifying that something is traveling at that speed, adding a verb.

mach speed

This alternative uses "mach" referencing the Mach number, a common scale for measuring supersonic speeds.

at mach speed

This is similar to “mach speed” and adding 'at' preposition.

beyond the sound barrier

This alternative refers to surpassing the speed of sound, often used metaphorically.

transonic

Describes speeds nearing the sound barrier, slightly different but related.

ultrasonic

Refers to frequencies above human hearing, sharing the 'ultra' prefix but different context.

hypersonic

Indicates speeds significantly higher than supersonic, typically Mach 5 or greater.

high velocity

This describes speed, but doesn't specify exceeding the speed of sound.

FAQs

How is "supersonic" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "supersonic" is used as an adjective to describe the speed of an object exceeding the speed of sound, as in "supersonic aircraft" or "supersonic speed."

What are some alternatives to the word "supersonic"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "faster than sound", "transonic" (near the speed of sound), or "hypersonic" (much faster than sound).

Is it correct to say "supersonic frequency"?

While "supersonic" primarily relates to speed, the term "ultrasonic" is more appropriate for describing frequencies beyond human hearing. So, use "ultrasonic frequency" instead.

What is the difference between "supersonic" and "hypersonic"?

"Supersonic" describes speeds exceeding the speed of sound (Mach 1 or greater), while "hypersonic" refers to speeds at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5 or greater). Hypersonic is significantly faster than supersonic.