What is condensed water falling from the atmosphere called?

Condensed water falling from the atmosphere is called precipitation. It forms when water vapour condenses into droplets or ice crystals inside clouds and the particles become heavy enough for gravity to pull them downward.

Precipitation includes rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, ice pellets, graupel and hail. The form it takes depends largely on temperature through the cloud and the air below it. Rain begins as cloud droplets that merge, while snow develops from ice crystals that grow within cold clouds.

Precipitation is a central stage of the water cycle, returning atmospheric water to oceans, lakes, rivers and land. It supplies most freshwater used by ecosystems and replenishes groundwater. Fog and mist are commonly confused with precipitation, but they remain suspended near the ground rather than falling from clouds.

The word is broader than “rain”: rain is only one type of precipitation. On Saturn’s moon Titan, scientists have also observed methane precipitation, showing that the general process can involve liquids other than water.