freezing rain

American  

noun

1. rain that falls as a liquid but freezes into glaze upon contact with the ground.

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Etymology

Origin of freezing rain

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

A massive winter storm continues to hit large parts of the country, dumping snow, sleet and freezing rain and leaving hundreds of thousands without power in the South.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

The storm hobbled several of American’s major hubs, including Dallas, which was pummeled early on by ice and freezing rain.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

“In addition, widespread freezing rain and sleet are expected across the Southern Plains, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee Valley, and the Southeast.”

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

The storm is also expected to bring freezing rain and snow to parts of the upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

And when the autumn storms came howling, the coast got sleet and hail and freezing rain rather than snow.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin