Mist vs. Haze — What's the Difference?

Mist is a phenomenon caused by small droplets of water suspended in air. Physically, it is an example of a dispersion.

Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon in which dust, smoke, and other dry particulates obscure the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes a classification of horizontal obscuration into categories of fog, ice fog, steam fog, mist, haze, smoke, volcanic ash, dust, sand, and snow.

A cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface that limits visibility (to a lesser extent than fog; strictly, with visibility remaining above 1 km)

A slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles

Cover or become covered with mist

A state of mental confusion

A mass of fine droplets of water in the atmosphere near or in contact with the earth.

Obscure with a haze

Water vapor condensed on and clouding the appearance of a surface.

Force (a new or potential recruit to the military or a university fraternity) to perform strenuous, humiliating, or dangerous tasks

Fine drops of a liquid, such as water, perfume, or medication, sprayed into the air.

Drive (cattle) while on horseback

A suspension of fine drops of a liquid in a gas.

Atmospheric moisture, dust, smoke, and vapor that diminishes visibility.

Something that dims or conceals.

A partially opaque covering

A haze before the eyes that blurs the vision.

A vague or confused state of mind.

Something that produces or gives the impression of dimness or obscurity

To become misty or hazy; blur.

A drink consisting of a liquor served over cracked ice.

To persecute or harass with meaningless, difficult, or humiliating tasks.

To be or become obscured or blurred by or as if by mist.

To initiate, as into a college fraternity, by exacting humiliating performances from or playing rough practical jokes upon.

To rain in a fine shower.

Very fine solid particles (smoke, dust) or liquid droplets (moisture) suspended in the air, slightly limiting visibility. fog, mist.}}

To conceal or veil with or as if with mist.

A reduction of transparency of a clear gas or liquid.

To moisturize (plants or dry air, for example) with a fine spray of water.

An analogous dullness on a surface that is ideally highly reflective or transparent.

Water or other liquid finely suspended in air. fog, haze.}}

(figuratively) Any state suggestive of haze in the atmosphere, such as mental confusion or vagueness of memory.

(countable) A layer of fine droplets or particles.

The degree of cloudiness or turbidity in a clear glass or plastic, measured in percent.

(figurative) Anything that dims, darkens, or hinders vision.

Any substance causing turbidity in beer or wine.

To form mist.

To be or become hazy, or thick with haze.

To spray fine droplets on, particularly of water.

To perform an unpleasant initiation ritual upon a usually non-consenting individual, especially freshmen to a closed community such as a college fraternity or military unit.

To cover with a mist.

To oppress or harass by forcing to do hard and unnecessary work.

(of the eyes) To be covered by tears.

(transitive) In a rodeo, to assist the bulldogger by keeping (the steer) running in a straight line.

To disperse into a mist, accompanying operation of equipment at high speeds.

(transitive) To use aversive stimuli on (a wild animal, such as a bear) to encourage it to keep its distance from humans.

Visible watery vapor suspended in the atmosphere, at or near the surface of the earth; fog.

Light vapor or smoke in the air which more or less impedes vision, with little or no dampness; a lack of transparency in the air; hence, figuratively, obscurity; dimness.

Coarse, watery vapor, floating or falling in visible particles, approaching the form of rain; as, Scotch mist.

A state of confusion, uncertainty, or vagueness of thought or perception; as, after the explosion, people were wandering around in a haze.

Hence, anything which dims or darkens, and obscures or intercepts vision.

To be hazy, or thick with haze.

To cloud; to cover with mist; to dim.

To harass by exacting unnecessary, disagreeable, or difficult work.

To rain in very fine drops; as, it mists.

To harass or annoy by playing abusive or shameful tricks upon; to humiliate by practical jokes; - used esp. of college students, as an initiation rite into a fraternity or other group; as, the sophomores hazed a freshman.

A thin fog with condensation near the ground

Atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility

Become covered with mist;

Confusion characterized by lack of clarity

Make less visible or unclear;

Become hazy, dull, or cloudy

Spray finely or cover with mist

Harass by imposing humiliating or painful tasks, as in military institutions