sleet

1 of 2

noun

: rain that freezes or partly freezes as it falls from the sky
Concerned that ice pellets—also known as sleet—were a larger hazard than previously thought, the Federal Aviation Administration in late 2005 adopted strict limits on planes taking off in such icy conditions.Susan Carey and Andy Pasztor
The wind blew bitterly cold, and the boughs of the old tree crackled under falling sleet.Harriet Jacobs
compare freezing rain, hail entry 1, snow entry 1
sleety adjective

sleet

2 of 2

verb

sleeted; sleeting; sleets

intransitive verb

: to shower sleet

Examples of sleet in a Sentence

Noun The snow turned to sleet and made driving very dangerous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This system continuously distributes power to all 4 wheels, enhancing traction and stability in various driving conditions like rain, snow, sleet, or on uneven terrain. Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025 Odds for a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow in Central Texas have increased, with a 30% chance of at least a half-inch of snow between Wednesday night and Thursday night, according to the weather service. Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 The heaviest snow will continue overnight, and some sleet may also fall. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Weather Service: More snow pushing into Nashville from the west Warmer conditions have reached the southern portion of Middle Tennessee, bringing along sleet and light freezing rain to areas along I-40 and east of I-65, reported the National Weather Service. Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sleet

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English slete; akin to Middle High German slōz hailstone

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleet was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleet. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sleet

1 of 2 noun
: rain that freezes or partly freezes as it falls from the sky
sleety adjective

sleet

2 of 2 verb
: to shower sleet

More from Merriam-Webster on sleet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!