sheet lightning

noun

1. lightning appearing merely as a general illumination over a broad area, usually because the path of the flash is obscured by clouds.

sheet lightning

noun

1. lightning that appears as a broad sheet, caused by the reflection of more distant lightning

sheet lightning

/ shēt /

1. A broad, sheetlike illumination of a portion of a thundercloud, caused by an unseen, often internal or reflected lightning flash.
2. See also heat lightningSee more at lightning

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheet lightning¹

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

She’d harvested wheat in Montana, watching the entire sky flash with sheet lightning.

From Los Angeles Times

Anyway, if the tornadoes don’t suck the air out of your lungs and toss you like a rag doll, and if the swarm of nails doesn’t go through you like shotgun pellets, there’s still the sheet lightning.

From Literature

At the top of the stairs, I spot some sheet lightning in the distance, which is one of my favorite kinds.

From Literature

Last month, I was anchored with Cat in Sardinia when monstrous winds rushed in with thunder and sheet lightning illuminating the full filmic horror of it.

From The Guardian

"I've never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life I don't think. Mostly sheet lightning and not too loud but flashes are spectacular."

From BBC