Definitions
01non-electric instruments
B1 · Intermediate Music
adj. describing a musical instrument that makes sound naturally without using electricity or an amplifier.
adj. relating to musical instruments that produce sound through natural resonance rather than electronic amplification.
“He played an acoustic guitar during the small campfire party.”
“The band decided to record an acoustic version of their hit single to showcase the lead singer's raw vocal talent.”
Usage
Usually precedes the noun it modifies.
Antonyms
02relating to sound or hearing
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical
adj. related to the sense of hearing or the science of sound.
adj. pertaining to the physical properties of sound or the biological mechanics of the auditory system.
“The doctor checked his acoustic nerve to see why his hearing was fading.”
“The research facility was designed with advanced acoustic sensors to detect even the slightest vibrations in the earth's crust.”
03sound quality of a room
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Architecture
n. the qualities of a room or building that affect how easy it is to hear sounds in it.
n. the physical characteristics of a space that determine the fidelity and transmission of sound within it.
“The old church has wonderful acoustics for choir music.”
“Architects must carefully consider the acoustics of a lecture hall to ensure that the speaker's voice carries clearly to the back row.”
Usage
Almost always used in the plural form 'acoustics' when referring to a room's properties.
Synonyms
04basic or non-digital
C1 · Advanced Humorous · Informal
adj. a funny way to describe something that is manual or simple instead of high-tech.
adj. used humorously to describe mechanical or non-electronic versions of modern digital tools.
“I used an acoustic map because my phone battery died.”
“In an age of tablets and styluses, he still prefers the acoustic experience of a fountain pen and a paper notebook.”
Teaching tip
This is a playful, modern use of the word; it compares a physical object to an 'unplugged' instrument.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “acoustic” in context.
Real-World Examples
“The researchers say their goal was to understand how the spatial and acoustic environment could bias and shape sensory experience.” “Image caption, The wall art provides some acoustic dampening.” Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix).
Due to the shared metrical structure of autistic and acoustic. Popularized on TikTok in late October 2023.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/acoustic
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0