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

Further heavy snow was expected in parts of the Northeast Monday, with freezing rain in the Mid-Atlantic region, according to the weather service.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

A massive winter storm was set to drop a mix of freezing rain and heavy snow on some 160 million Americans starting Friday, threatening to bring dangerously icy conditions.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

The storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain to parts of the South on Friday and then spread eastward over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 22, 2026

You remember that feeling of cold, freezing rain down your back I was telling you about?

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt