echolocation

noun

echo·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌe-kō-lō-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce echolocation (audio)
: a physiological process for locating distant or invisible objects (such as prey) by sound waves reflected back to the emitter (such as a bat) from the objects

Examples of echolocation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bats do not rely only on vision and instead use echolocation to perceive the world. — Nitin Sanket, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026 Humans are heavily visual; bats lean on echolocation; for dogs, smell is everything. — Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026 Your body passes through a ring of underwater sensors, each acting like a dolphin, using its echolocation. — Richard Lawler, The Verge, 18 June 2026 Earth bending is a different story for her, though as seen in the brief moments of what looks like echolocation Toph uses to locate objects and people in relation to her. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for echolocation

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of echolocation was circa 1944

Rhymes for echolocation

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Browse Nearby Words

echolocate
echolocation
echometer
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Cite this Entry

“Echolocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/echolocation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

echolocation

noun
echo·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌek-ō-lō-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce echolocation (audio)
: a process for locating distant or invisible objects by means of sound waves reflected back to the sender from the objects

More from Merriam-Webster on echolocation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about echolocation

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