phonetic alphabet

noun

1
: a set of symbols (such as the IPA) used for phonetic transcription
2
: any of various systems of identifying letters of the alphabet by means of code words in voice communication

Examples of phonetic alphabet 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.
The author of essays on phonetic alphabets, demography, paper currency. Adam Smyth, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024 Before the first wave of drivers loaded their vans, a second series of vans drove uniformly into the bay, parking one after another in rows of four in a launch pad dubbed bravo, like the phonetic alphabet used by the military. Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024 Storms were originally identified through a phonetic alphabet, such as Adam, Baker, Charlie, and the same names were used during subsequent hurricane seasons. The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023 And most of these weren’t phonetic alphabets with consonants and vowels. Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023 At first, officials were using the phonetic alphabet to determine the storm names but switched to female-only names in 1953 - the legend about the change is that a member of the naming committee was angry with his spouse and wanted to name a storm after her. Mallory Nicholls, Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2022 Just a few months later, the ICAO also approved the revised version, now known as the NATO phonetic alphabet. Kimberly Hickok, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2022 Modern Korean follows a phonetic alphabet called Hangul, meaning the syllables are generally pronounced as they’re written – unlike non-phonetic languages such as Chinese, which uses symbols to represent specific meanings. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 17 Jan. 2023 Her latest story focuses on a phonetic alphabet created by early Latter-day Saints in Utah. Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 May 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of phonetic alphabet was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near phonetic alphabet

Cite this Entry

“Phonetic alphabet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonetic%20alphabet. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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