Meteorology Vocabulary in English
20 essential meteorology words with definitions and example sentences — weather, atmosphere, and forecasting for B2–C1 ESL learners.
Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather. The vocabulary of this field appears in weather forecasts, news reports, geography lessons, and scientific writing. For B2 and C1 learners, mastering these terms makes it far easier to follow an English-language forecast or read about the climate with confidence.
This page covers 20 key meteorology words, from everyday terms such as humidity and forecast to more technical concepts such as isobar, anticyclone, and dew point. These words are precise: meteorologists use them in specific, well-defined ways, so learning the exact meaning of each one will help you understand and discuss weather accurately.
If you are building a broader vocabulary, you may also find our pages on Weather vocabulary, Climate Change vocabulary, Geography vocabulary, Natural Disasters vocabulary, and Oceanography vocabulary useful. Together they give you the language to describe the natural world clearly and to read scientific texts with greater ease.
Word List
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| forecast | a prediction of what the weather will be like over a coming period, based on current atmospheric data | The forecast warns of heavy rain across the south coast tomorrow afternoon. |
| humidity | the amount of water vapour present in the air, usually expressed as a percentage | The high humidity made the tropical afternoon feel far hotter than the thermometer suggested. |
| precipitation | any form of water — rain, snow, sleet, or hail — that falls from clouds to the ground | Forecasters expect little precipitation this week, with mostly dry and settled conditions. |
| front | the boundary between two air masses of different temperature and humidity, often bringing a change in the weather | A cold front is moving in from the west and will bring a sharp drop in temperature. |
| pressure | the force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, measured in millibars or hectopascals; changes in pressure signal changing weather | A rapid fall in pressure usually warns that a storm is on the way. |
| isobar | a line on a weather map joining points of equal atmospheric pressure | When the isobars on the chart are close together, you can expect strong winds. |
| cyclone | a system of winds rotating around a centre of low atmospheric pressure, usually bringing unsettled or stormy weather | The deep cyclone over the Atlantic brought days of rain and gales to the coast. |
| anticyclone | a system of winds rotating around a centre of high atmospheric pressure, usually bringing calm, settled, and dry weather | A large anticyclone parked over the region gave us a fortnight of clear, sunny skies. |
| temperature | a measure of how hot or cold the air is, recorded with a thermometer in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit | Overnight temperatures are expected to fall below freezing in rural areas. |
| condensation | the process by which water vapour in the air cools and turns into liquid water, forming clouds, mist, or dew | Condensation high in the atmosphere is what allows clouds to form and rain to develop. |
| gust | a sudden, brief, strong rush of wind | A violent gust tore several tiles from the roof during the storm. |
| visibility | the distance over which objects can be clearly seen, reduced by fog, mist, rain, or snow | Dense fog cut visibility to less than fifty metres on the motorway. |
| atmosphere | the layer of gases surrounding the Earth in which all weather takes place | Most of our weather occurs in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, called the troposphere. |
| climate | the typical pattern of weather in a region averaged over a long period, usually thirty years or more | Britain has a temperate maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers. |
| barometer | an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure and is used to help predict changes in the weather | The barometer was falling steadily, a reliable sign that wet weather was approaching. |
| overcast | (of the sky) completely covered with grey cloud, with no sunshine breaking through | The day stayed overcast, with a thick blanket of cloud and no glimpse of the sun. |
| dew point | the temperature at which the air becomes saturated and water vapour begins to condense into dew, mist, or fog | When the temperature drops to the dew point overnight, fog often forms in the valleys. |
| jet stream | a narrow band of very strong winds high in the atmosphere that steers weather systems across the globe | The position of the jet stream determines whether Britain gets a warm or a wet summer. |
| squall | a sudden, violent increase in wind speed, often accompanied by rain, snow, or hail, lasting only a short time | A line of squalls swept across the bay, bringing brief but intense bursts of rain. |
| drizzle | very light rain made up of fine droplets that fall slowly and steadily | A persistent drizzle dampened the streets all morning without ever becoming heavy. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a cyclone and an anticyclone?
The two words describe opposite weather systems. A cyclone is an area of low atmospheric pressure with winds spiralling inwards around its centre; it usually brings cloud, wind, and unsettled or stormy weather. An anticyclone is an area of high pressure with winds spiralling outwards; it usually brings calm, settled, dry conditions — clear skies in summer and cold, foggy weather in winter. A simple way to remember it: low pressure (cyclone) means bad weather, high pressure (anticyclone) means fine weather. Note that in some regions "cyclone" is also the name for a tropical storm.
What is an isobar on a weather map?
An isobar is a line that joins points of equal atmospheric pressure on a weather chart, rather like the contour lines that join points of equal height on a geographical map. Isobars are extremely useful for reading the weather. Where the isobars are far apart, the pressure changes gently and winds are light; where they are packed close together, the pressure changes sharply over a short distance and you can expect strong winds. The pattern of isobars also reveals the centres of cyclones (low pressure) and anticyclones (high pressure).
What is the difference between weather and climate?
This is one of the most important distinctions in meteorology. Weather describes the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time — today's temperature, rain, wind, and cloud. It changes from hour to hour and day to day. Climate is the average pattern of weather in a region measured over a long period, usually thirty years or more. A useful saying is: "Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get." A single cold day does not contradict a warming climate, because climate is about long-term averages, not individual days.
What is a weather front?
A front is the boundary where two air masses with different temperatures and levels of humidity meet. As one air mass pushes into another, it forces the air to rise, cool, and form cloud and rain — which is why fronts so often bring a change in the weather. A cold front occurs when colder air advances and undercuts warmer air, often bringing heavy showers followed by clearer, cooler conditions. A warm front occurs when warmer air rises over colder air, usually bringing a longer spell of steady rain. On a weather map, fronts are marked with triangles or semicircles.
What does dew point mean?
The dew point is the temperature to which the air must cool for it to become fully saturated with water vapour. Once the air reaches this temperature, the vapour begins to condense into liquid water, forming dew, mist, or fog. The closer the actual air temperature is to the dew point, the more humid the air feels. A high dew point on a summer day makes the air feel sticky and uncomfortable, while a low dew point makes it feel fresh and dry. Forecasters use the dew point to predict fog, which often forms overnight when the temperature falls to the dew point.
What are the different types of precipitation?
Precipitation is the general term for any water that falls from clouds to the ground, and it comes in several forms. Rain is liquid water droplets; drizzle is very fine, light rain. Snow forms when water vapour freezes directly into ice crystals. Sleet is a mixture of rain and partly melted snow. Hail consists of balls of ice formed in strong thunderstorm clouds. Using the umbrella term precipitation is helpful in forecasts because it covers all of these at once, which is why you often hear phrases like "scattered precipitation" rather than naming each type.
What is the jet stream and why does it matter?
The jet stream is a narrow ribbon of very fast-moving air found high in the atmosphere, where the winds can reach over 200 kilometres per hour. It forms at the boundary between cold polar air and warmer air to the south, and it flows from west to east around the globe. The jet stream is important because it steers weather systems such as cyclones and anticyclones. Its position has a huge effect on day-to-day weather: when the jet stream lies to the north of Britain, the country often enjoys warm, settled weather, but when it dips to the south, it can bring storms and rain.
What is the difference between a squall and a gust?
Both refer to sudden increases in wind, but they differ in duration and character. A gust is a brief, sharp burst of wind lasting only a few seconds before the wind drops back to its previous speed. A squall is more sustained and more severe: it is a sudden, strong increase in wind speed that lasts for several minutes and is often accompanied by rain, snow, or hail. In short, a gust is a momentary spike, while a squall is a longer, fiercer episode of bad weather. Sailors pay close attention to squalls because they can arrive with little warning and capsize a boat.
How does a barometer measure pressure?
A barometer is an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure — the weight of the air pressing down on the Earth's surface. Traditional mercury barometers measure how far the air's pressure pushes a column of mercury up a tube, while modern aneroid and digital barometers use a sealed cell that expands and contracts as the pressure changes. Pressure matters because it is closely linked to the weather: falling pressure usually signals approaching wind and rain (a cyclone), while rising or high pressure signals calm, settled conditions (an anticyclone). That is why people once tapped the barometer each morning to guess the day's weather.
What is the best way to learn meteorology vocabulary?
The most effective method is to use the words in their real context. Read or listen to English-language weather forecasts each day and notice how terms like front, pressure, humidity, and anticyclone are used. Look at a simple weather map and try to identify the isobars, the fronts, and the centres of high and low pressure. Group related words together — for example, all the types of precipitation, or all the words connected with pressure — so that you learn them as a system rather than in isolation. Finally, use the Flash Cards and Quiz on LexFizz to drill the 20 words on this page until they become automatic.