freezing rain

noun

: rain that freezes upon contact with a surface (such as the ground)

But to Healy's surprise, a glaze of freezing rain began to appear on the windshield.

—Jon Vara

This also explains why the stuff we call freezing rain … falls as a liquid but then turns to a sheet of ice when it strikes the pavement or a tree branch.

—Frederick K. Lutgens et al.

compare hail entry 1, sleet entry 1, snow entry 1

Examples of freezing rain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Montana is also bracing for freezing rain in Kalispell, Libby, Flathead Lake, and surrounding highways. —Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025

Forecast risk of severe winter weather for Tuesday Risk Moderate High A swath of freezing rain and sleet could also spread farther south across Oklahoma to Arkansas later Tuesday and into the night. —Nazaneen Ghaffar, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

In the middle of the country that makes up much of the Plains region — stretching from Montana to Wisconsin, down to Texas — conditions are expected to range from snow to sleet and freezing rain on Tuesday night. —Ayana Archie, NPR, 18 Feb. 2025

There’s a chance for freezing rain in the Metroplex as the front arrives later Tuesday, however, ice accumulations and traffic impacts are expected to be minimal, according to the NWS. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for freezing rain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

freezing rain

noun

: rain that freezes upon contact with a surface (as the ground)