Definition & Meaning of "sibilant"

What is a "sibilant"?

A sibilant is a type of consonant sound characterized by a hissing or hushing quality, produced by forcing air through a narrow channel formed by the tongue and the roof of the mouth. Sibilants often have a high-frequency sound, making them distinct in speech. Common examples of sibilants in English include the "s" sound in "snake," the "z" sound in "zebra," and the "sh" sound in "shoe." Sibilants are important in phonetics because they contribute to the clarity and richness of spoken language, helping to differentiate words based on their pronunciation.