What does precipitation mean?
Precipitation most commonly refers to rain, snow, sleet, hail, and other forms of water that fall from the atmosphere, especially in meteorology and weather reports. It can describe either the water itself or the process of falling, so a forecast may predict “light precipitation” even when the expected amount is small. The word also has a scientific use in chemistry, where precipitation means the formation of a solid substance from a solution. Less commonly, especially in older and more literary writing, precipitation can suggest suddenness or headlong haste. Because it is more precise than the broad word “rain,” precipitation is especially common in weather forecasts, climate reports, and scientific contexts. Its Latin roots also connect it with the idea of falling or plunging, which helps explain both its literal and figurative associations.
Water in the form of rain, snow, sleet, hail, or similar particles falling from clouds to the ground; the process of such falling.
"The region received unusually heavy precipitation during the winter."
This is the dominant modern sense and is standard in meteorology and weather forecasting.
The formation of a solid substance from a solution.
"A cloudy precipitation formed when the reagent was added."
Used chiefly in chemistry and related technical contexts.
A sudden, hasty, or headlong action or proceeding.
"The decision was made with such precipitation that no one had time to consider the consequences."
Now uncommon and mainly found in formal, literary, or historical writing.
Plural is used when referring to separate or multiple occurrences of precipitation, particularly in technical or historical contexts.
"The records document several precipitations during the unusually wet season."
From the Latin for “falling headlong,” precipitation began as a word for haste and suddenness before settling into its modern meaning for falling rain and snow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does precipitation come from?
The word comes from Latin praecipitatio, meaning “a falling down,” and is related to praecipitare, “to throw or fall headlong.” English borrowed the word in the 14th century, initially in the sense of haste, rashness, or a headlong fall. By the 17th century it was also used for the process by which water falls from the atmosphere, and later acquired its chemical sense.
Related word forms
How precipitation is actually used
In everyday meteorology, precipitation is a formal or scientific term and normally refers collectively to rain, snow, sleet, and hail rather than to rain alone. In chemistry, it describes the formation of a solid from a dissolved substance. The older sense meaning sudden haste is uncommon and sounds formal or literary.
Easily confused with precipitation
Precipitation usually names the fall of water from the atmosphere, while precipitate more commonly means to cause something to happen suddenly or to form a solid from a solution.