sonobuoy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Military
Quick answer
What does “sonobuoy” mean?
A floating acoustic device that is deployed in water to detect underwater sounds and transmit data, primarily used for submarine detection.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A floating acoustic device that is deployed in water to detect underwater sounds and transmit data, primarily used for submarine detection.
A buoy equipped with sonar (hydrophones) and a radio transmitter, dropped from aircraft or ships, that functions as part of a larger underwater surveillance system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference; spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The concept and technology are identical.
Connotations
Technical, military, naval warfare. No distinct regional connotations.
Frequency
Used with equal rarity in both varieties, exclusively in relevant military, maritime, or technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sonobuoy” in a Sentence
The [aircraft] deployed [number] sonobuoys.The sonobuoy detected [a contact/anomaly].Data from the sonobuoy was transmitted to [receiver].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sonobuoy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The helicopter will sonobuoy the suspected area.
- We need to sonobuoy the transit route.
American English
- The P-8 will sonobuoy the search zone.
- The mission was to sonobuoy the entire grid.
adjective
British English
- The sonobuoy data was inconclusive.
- They conducted a sonobuoy sweep.
American English
- The sonobuoy information confirmed the contact.
- A sonobuoy drop was ordered.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; potentially in defense contracting contexts.
Academic
Used in military history, oceanography, or naval engineering papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), naval operations, and maritime surveillance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sonobuoy”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sonobuoy”
- Misspelling as 'sonobouy' or 'sonnobuoy'.
- Using it as a general term for any nautical buoy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A regular buoy is for navigation, marking, or measurement. A sonobuoy is a specialised, expendable acoustic sensor used primarily for military detection.
Some are designed for recovery, but many are expendable and sink after their battery life ends to avoid revealing tactical information.
Primarily naval and air forces engaged in anti-submarine warfare. They are also used in scientific research for marine mammal tracking.
Passive sonobuoys only listen. Active sonobuoys emit a sound pulse (like sonar) and listen for the echo.
A floating acoustic device that is deployed in water to detect underwater sounds and transmit data, primarily used for submarine detection.
Sonobuoy is usually technical/military in register.
Sonobuoy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɒn.əˌbɔɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɑː.noʊˌbɔɪ/ or /ˈsoʊ.noʊˌbɔɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SONg from a BUOY. A 'sonobuoy' is a buoy that 'listens' for the 'songs' (sounds) of submarines.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERWATER MICROPHONE / ACOUSTIC SENTRY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a sonobuoy?