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subsonic

subsonic

Adjective

This term is primarily used in aeronautics and physics to describe speeds below Mach 1. It carries a technical, precise connotation and is rarely used in casual conversation unless referring to specific aircraft capabilities or atmospheric phenomena.

In a comparative context, it is the direct opposite of supersonic (faster than sound) and transonic (near the speed of sound). While "slow" is a general descriptor, "subsonic" specifically anchors the speed to the physical constant of the speed of sound, making it a term of scientific measurement rather than subjective perception.

Meanings

Adjectivesubsonic

Traveling at a speed slower than the speed of sound.

The aircraft maintained a subsonic cruise to conserve fuel.

Examples

Most commercial airliners operate at subsonic speeds.

The drone is designed for subsonic reconnaissance missions.

We need to keep the projectile subsonic to avoid detection.

Is this new engine capable of supersonic flight or is it strictly subsonic?

The aircraft remained in a subsonic regime during the entire test flight.

He wondered if the bird could actually reach subsonic limits during its dive.

Subsonic flow is much easier to manage than transonic flow.

The missile transitioned from a subsonic launch to a high-speed cruise.

It is a subsonic aircraft, so it will not produce a sonic boom.

Last Updated: May 2026•Report an Error