dust storm

American  

[duhst stawrm] / ˈdʌst ˌstɔrm /

Or duststorm

noun

Meteorology.

• dust storms
  plural

1. an occurrence of strong winds permeating the air with fine particles of dust over an extensive area of normally arable land during a period of drought.

   It was a time of danger and despair on the prairie, with one dust storm after another.

---

dust storm British  

noun

1. a windstorm that whips up clouds of dust

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dust storms
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of dust storm

First recorded in 1875–80

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dust storm

They found that electrical discharges were normally associated with dust devils and dust storm fronts.

From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2025

The ferocious dust storm around the event’s temporary Black Rock City forced organizers to shutter the event’s gates and its nearby airport as the weather service warned of a “wall of blowing dust.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025

On Saturday, under a cloud-dotted blue sky and before a dust storm rolled in, he spoke of the lack of shade at Silvestre Jr.’s elementary school.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2024

Combination of newly plowed fields & gusty northwest winds is generating a dust storm in this area.

From Washington Post ● May 1, 2023

"According to your latest satellite data, the dust storm in Arabia Terra isn't abating at all, and will block eighty percent of the sunlight?"

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• sandstorm

---