1
: having a frequency above the human ear's audibility limit of about 20,000 hertz
used of waves and vibrations
2
: utilizing, produced by, or relating to ultrasonic waves or vibrations

Did you know?

Ultrasound, or ultrasonography, works on the principle that sound is reflected at different speeds by tissues or substances of different densities. Ultrasound technology has been used medically since the 1940s. Sonograms, the pictures produced by ultrasound, can reveal heart defects, tumors, and gallstones; since low-power ultrasonic waves don't present any risks to a body, they're most often used to display fetuses during pregnancy in order to make sure they're healthy. Ultrasonics has many other uses, including underwater sonar sensing. High-power ultrasonics are so intense that they're actually used for drilling and welding.

Examples of ultrasonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The sedan also packs the Xiao Yao Zhi Xing driver-assist suite powered by Momenta, utilizing LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, 360-degree cameras, and ultrasonic sensors. New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2026 Maintenance records show that the fan blades on the right engine that failed had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 and November 2025 without finding damage. Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The front of the robot houses an AI Vision camera; ultrasonic and IR sensors that aid navigation, obstacle avoidance, and mapping; and a pair of LED lights for nighttime cleaning. John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, New York City’s FloodNet uses ultrasonic range-finding sensors and edge processing to calculate flood depth in real time, helping city agencies make more informed decisions during times of heavy weather. Lee-Lean Shu, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ultrasonic

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ultrasonic was in 1923

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Cite this Entry

“Ultrasonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultrasonic. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

ultrasonic

adjective
: relating to or being vibrations that are of the same kind as sound waves but have too high a frequency to be heard by the human ear

Medical Definition

ultrasonic

adjective
1
a
: having a frequency above the human ear's audibility limit of about 20,000 hertz
used of waves and vibrations
b
: utilizing, produced by, or relating to ultrasonic waves or vibrations
removal of tartar with an ultrasonic scaler
2
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