sibilant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh)
    sibilant consonant.
  2. adjective satellite of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then')
    spirant; fricative; strident; continuant.

WordNet

Sib"i*lant adjective
Etymology
L. sibilans, -antis, p. pr. of sibilare to hiss: cf. F. sibilant.
Definitions
  1. Making a hissing sound; uttered with a hissing sound; hissing; as, s, z, sh, and zh, are sibilant elementary sounds. -- n. A sibiliant letter.

Webster 1913