Lahars, a geological term used to describe volcanic mudflows, can also be referred to by a number of other synonyms. These include volcanic debris flows, volcanic mudslides, and pyroclastic mudflows. These terms all refer to the mixture of hot volcanic ash, rock, and water that can occur when volcanic activity causes melting snow and ice from nearby glaciers, or heavy rainfall mixes with volcanic sediment. Lahars can be incredibly dangerous, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, and even leading to loss of life. Synonyms for lahars may be useful to help understand forensic reports and scientific studies related to volcanic eruptions that have produced these devastating natural events.