# sonar

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsoʊ.nɑːɹ/ · frequency rank #19,702

## Definitions
1. Artificial echolocation by use of electronic equipment, with hydrophones to locate objects underwater, using the same wave-analysis principles that radar uses.
2. A device that provides such echolocation.
3. Any echolocation.

## Etymology
By anacronymic evolution from SONAR.

## Easily confused with
- **sor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sor)
- **song** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-song)
- **star** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-star)
- **sons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sons)
- **Sony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sony)
- **sour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sour)
- **spar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-spar)
- **sora** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sora)
- **Sosa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sosa)
- **soya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-soya)
- **sone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sone)
- **songs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-songs)
- **sugar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sugar)
- **swear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-swear)
- **sonic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sonic)
- **spear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-spear)
- **sonny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sonny)
- **Sonia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sonia)
- **Sonya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sonya)
- **Sonja** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sonar-vs-sonja)

## Common misspellings (7)
`osnar`, `snoar`, `soanr`, `sonarr`, `sonnar`, `sonra`, `ssonar`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sonar