sonobuoy

noun

so·​no·​buoy ˈsä-nə-ˌbȯi How to pronounce sonobuoy (audio)
-ˌbü-ē
: a buoy equipped for detecting underwater sounds and transmitting them by radio

Examples of sonobuoy 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.
Swarms of Aqua-Quads could travel the seas like fleets of mobile sonobuoys. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 It is equipped with sensors, sonobuoys and torpedoes to detect, track and attack submarines. — Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025 Proteus boasts a modular payload bay for carrying sonobuoy dispensers, maritime search radar, and other sensors and communications systems. — New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026 Based on the Boeing 737, the aircraft is equipped with a bank of computer stations, cutting-edge radar technology, a high-definition camera, torpedoes, and up to 129 marine sensors known as sonobuoys. — Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sonobuoy

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonobuoy was in 1937

Rhymes for sonobuoy

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Browse Nearby Words

sonny
sonobuoy
sonochemistry
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on sonobuoy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sonobuoy

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