: 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
Susan Carey and Andy PasztorThe 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
Harriet JacobsExamples of sleet in a Sentence
Noun
The snow turned to sleet and made driving very dangerous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2025
The switch from snow to sleet and rain will create slushy conditions and hazardous travel.
—Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
Less than half an inch of daytime snow and sleet accumulation is possible.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2025
In Maine and New Hampshire, a mixture of snow, sleet, and ice is forecast, creating hazardous driving conditions through Monday morning.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
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Noun
Total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations up to two tenths of an inch.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2025
The switch from snow to sleet and rain will create slushy conditions and hazardous travel.
—Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
Less than half an inch of daytime snow and sleet accumulation is possible.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2025
In Maine and New Hampshire, a mixture of snow, sleet, and ice is forecast, creating hazardous driving conditions through Monday morning.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
Cite this Entry
“Sleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleet. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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