If a person is not in the medical sector, they may consider this contrast because, as per people, ultrasound and Ultrasonic sound similar and are intermingled when they are mentioned. Yes, these are comparable, but nowhere close to being considered the same thing.
Ultrasound is a scientific phenomenon characterized by a mechanical wave with a frequency greater than the normal hearing threshold.
Key Takeaways
- Ultrasound refers to using sound waves above the range of human hearing to produce images of internal body structures. In contrast, ultrasonic refers to using high-frequency sound waves for various applications, including medical imaging, cleaning, and welding.
- Ultrasound is commonly used for medical diagnosis and monitoring, while ultrasonic is used in various industrial and scientific applications.
- Ultrasound requires specialized equipment and training, while ultrasonic applications vary widely in complexity and accessibility.
Ultrasound vs Ultrasonic
Ultrasound is used to describe a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal organs and tissues. Ultrasonic is a term which means the use of high-frequency sound waves in applications such as cleaning, measuring distance, and detecting objects.

Diagnostic ultrasound, often known as sonography as well as diagnostic and interventional sonography, is a type of scanning that employs high-frequency sound waves to create images of things inside the body. The images can be used to help diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and disorders.
Ultrasonic testing (UT) refers to a class of non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, including the passage of ultrasonic waves through such an object or surface. Very high-frequency sound vibrations are delivered into components to evaluate the substance or find flaws.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Ultrasound | Ultrasonic |
---|---|---|
Connotation | Ultrasound is defined asย soundย with such a frequency moreย than the upper range of human hearing, which is around 20 kilohertz. | Ultrasonic is beyond (greater in frequency above) the spectrum of sounds audible to the auditory system; at a frequency of 20 kilohertz as well as greater. |
Applications | The application of ultrasound is to diagnose or treat patients. | Ultrasonic waves have frequencies greater than that of audible sound and also have a wide range of applications. |
Adjective | Ultrasound is sometimes also known as ultrasonic and vice-versa, as per sources. | Ultrasonic is considered as the adjective of ultrasound in many places. |
Often referred as | The terminology โultrasoundโ is often used to refer to clinical ultrasonic scanning and therapeutic ultrasound imagery, although โultrasonicโ is not. | On the other hand, ultrasonic is nothing but the adjective of ultrasound waves above or about 20 Kilohertz. |
Used as | In healthcare, ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, is frequently employed. | Ultrasonic gadgets are being used to observe and quantify objects and ranges. |
What is Ultrasound?
Diagnostic ultrasound, often known as sonography as well as diagnostic and interventional sonography, is a type of scanning that employs high-frequency sound waves to create images of things inside the body. The images can be used to help diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and disorders.
Ultrasound refers to sound waves having a frequency greater than the highest audible range of human hearing. The upper limit varies among individuals, but it is roughly 20,000 Hz. Ultrasound has the same physical qualities as ordinary audible sounds.
This fundamental notion is applied in a variety of fields, including navigating, medicine, scanning, cleansing, mixing, communications, testing, and so on.ย
And in the wild, bats and porpoises employ this strategy to locate prey and barriers. The conventional ultrasonic procedure is employed in products with difficult-to-reach portions, such as spiral tubing as well as electrical products.
Here, the product is submerged in a cleaning agent, and ultrasonic vibrations are sent through it. As a consequence, high-frequency waves are created, causing dirt and oil to separate from the surfaces.

What is Ultrasonic?
Ultrasonic testing (UT) refers to a class of non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, including the passage of ultrasonic waves through such an object or surface. Very high-frequency sound vibrations are delivered into components to evaluate the substance or find flaws.
Most UT inspection operations employ brief pulse waves having a frequency ranging from 0.1 to 15 MHz, while frequencies as high as 50 MHz are possible. Ultrasonic thickness measurements are a popular application for this testing method, which is used to determine the density of an artefact, including when evaluating piping corrosion.
Ultrasonic inspection employs a piezoelectric material linked to flaw detection, which is essentially a pulse receiver as well as an analyzer display. The transducers are moved over the thing to be examined, which is connected to the test piece by gel, oil, as well as water.
Such coupling is needed to transport sound energy out from transducers into the part efficiently, but it is not needed when testing utilizing non-contact methods such as electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) or laser stimulation.
Main Differences Between Ultrasound and Ultrasonic
- Ultrasound is defined as sound with a frequency greater than the upper range of human hearing, around 20 kilohertz. Ultrasonic is beyond (greater in frequency above) the spectrum of sounds audible to the auditory system; at a frequency of 20 kilohertz as well as greater.
- The application of ultrasound is to diagnose or treat patients. Ultrasonic waves have frequencies greater than that of audible sound and also have a wide range of applications.
- Ultrasound is sometimes also known as ultrasonic and vice-versa as per sources, whereas Ultrasonic is considered as the adjective of ultrasound in many places.
- The terminology โultrasoundโ is often used to reference clinical ultrasonic scanning and therapeutic ultrasound imagery, although โultrasonicโ is not. On the other hand, ultrasonic is nothing but the adjective of ultrasound waves above or about 20 Kilohertz.
- In healthcare, ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, is frequently employed. Ultrasonic gadgets are being used to observe and quantify objects and ranges.

- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199309163291201
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0099239985801801
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.