snowbird

noun

snow·​bird ˈsnō-ˌbərd How to pronounce snowbird (audio)
1
: any of several birds (such as a junco or fieldfare) seen chiefly in winter
2
: one who travels to warm climes for the winter

Did you know?

Snowbird has been in use since the late 1600s, but it has only been applied to humans since the early 1900s. It was first used to describe men who enlisted in the armed forces to get food and clothing during the winter months and then deserted as the warm spring weather approached. Not long after, the term was applied to the northern laborers who would flock down south to work as the cold, harsh winter set in up north. Today, northerners of all kinds, from vacationers to retirees, can be seen migrating as soon as the first frost arrives.

Examples of snowbird in a Sentence

Like many of the state's snowbirds, they live in Florida from November through March.
Recent Examples on the Web Forget snowbirds: Jeff Bezos is leading the migration of ultrawealthy taxbirds flocking to Florida’s lower tax rates The move to Florida has now likely saved Bezos about $430 million in taxes. Kristine Owram, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 Like human snowbirds, their migration can stir up trouble. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024 The top Florida vacation spots for snowbirds have been well known – and popularly patronized – for generations. Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 States like Florida and Arizona are part-time homes for around 1 million snowbirds − people who travel between homes in colder and warmer climates. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 How to Make Snow Cream (aka Snow Ice Cream) Sorry, snowbirds, this snow cream recipe isn't for you. Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2024 Crowd: Families, couples, exercise buffs and, when the season is right, snowbirds from Quebec. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Many residents are snowbirds, heading to warmer climates during part of the year. Dreams & Design Building, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024 Once a fishing village, the island is now popular with tourists, especially during the winter when snowbirds arrive from colder climates. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snowbird.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of snowbird was in 1674

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Cite this Entry

“Snowbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowbird. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

snowbird

noun
snow·​bird -bərd How to pronounce snowbird (audio)
: any of several small birds (as a junco) seen chiefly in winter

More from Merriam-Webster on snowbird

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