1. Of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as 'f', 's', 'z', or 'th' in both 'thin' and 'then')
   "The 's' in 'hiss' is a sibilant consonant";
   - fricative, continuant, spirant, strident

1. A consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh)
   "The 'sh' sound in 'ship' is a sibilant consonant";
   - sibilant consonant

Derived forms: sibilants

See also: soft

Type of: fricative, fricative consonant, spirant

Encyclopedia: Sibilant