phonetic alphabet
noun
1
: a set of symbols (such as the IPA) used for phonetic transcription
2
: any of various systems of identifying letters of the alphabet by means of code words in voice communication
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Her latest story focuses on a phonetic alphabet created by early Latter-day Saints in Utah. 
Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 May 2022 The 38-character phonetic alphabet was created by early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Utah. Kaitlyn Bancroft, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 May 2022 The creation of the phonetic alphabet, in contrast, forced our eyes to do the work. Nick Ripatrazone, The Week, 14 Mar. 2022 In the 1920s, a special agency of the United Nations, called the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), produced the first official version of a phonetic alphabet. Kimberly Hickok, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2022 Nothing about the unit suggests a connection to NATO other than the name, Lima, which is the NATO phonetic alphabet designation for the letter L. New York Times, 1 Feb. 2022 Barbier tinkered with several options over the years, ranging from shorthand to a phonetic alphabet. Kiona N. Smith, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022 Fun fact: Spirits are named following the military phonetic alphabet — Romeo Rum, Victor Vodka, Golf Gin and more. Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star, 11 July 2018 However, in the Atlantic Basin the practice of naming tropical cyclones did not begin until 1950 when the previously anonymous storms were named using a phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie, etc.). Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 5 June 2018 See More
Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 May 2022 The 38-character phonetic alphabet was created by early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Utah. Kaitlyn Bancroft, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 May 2022 The creation of the phonetic alphabet, in contrast, forced our eyes to do the work. Nick Ripatrazone, The Week, 14 Mar. 2022 In the 1920s, a special agency of the United Nations, called the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), produced the first official version of a phonetic alphabet. Kimberly Hickok, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2022 Nothing about the unit suggests a connection to NATO other than the name, Lima, which is the NATO phonetic alphabet designation for the letter L. New York Times, 1 Feb. 2022 Barbier tinkered with several options over the years, ranging from shorthand to a phonetic alphabet. Kiona N. Smith, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022 Fun fact: Spirits are named following the military phonetic alphabet — Romeo Rum, Victor Vodka, Golf Gin and more. Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star, 11 July 2018 However, in the Atlantic Basin the practice of naming tropical cyclones did not begin until 1950 when the previously anonymous storms were named using a phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie, etc.). Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 5 June 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1