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Definition of echolocation

echolocation

/ˌɛkoʊloʊˈkeɪʃən/
ech · o · lo · ca · tion
Plural:echolocations
•
Adjective:echolocative
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echolocation Lexical Profile

echolocation Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The physiological process of locating distant or invisible objects (such as prey or obstacles) by emitting sound waves and interpreting the reflected echoes, utilized by animals such as bats, dolphins, and toothed whales.

Example

"Bats rely on echolocation to navigate through pitch-black caves and catch flying insects in midair."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for echolocation

• Rhymes for echolocation

• Nearby Words

echoer
echoey
echolocate
echolocation
eclair
eclectic
eclectically

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1944 by American zoologist Donald Redfield Griffin (from 'echo' and 'location') to describe the acoustic navigation system of bats.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Echolocation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/echolocation
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