: 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
Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
Any mixing with ice and sleet will limit totals in areas just south of the heaviest snow, especially in the Ohio Valley and southern portions of the Northeast.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
Less than a half inch of snow and sleet is possible.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
Tonight, a chance of snow and sleet and then rain, with temperatures remaining in the 30s.
ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING
Suspended.
—James Barron, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sleet 
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Noun
In the Northeast, sleet and freezing rain may occur, affecting driving conditions and possibly creating power outages.
—Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
Any mixing with ice and sleet will limit totals in areas just south of the heaviest snow, especially in the Ohio Valley and southern portions of the Northeast.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
Less than a half inch of snow and sleet is possible.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
Tonight, a chance of snow and sleet and then rain, with temperatures remaining in the 30s.
ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING
Suspended.
—James Barron, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sleet
Articles Related to sleet
Dictionary Entries Near sleet
Cite this Entry
“Sleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleet. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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