snowflake

noun

snow·​flake ˈsnō-ˌflāk How to pronounce snowflake (audio)
1
: a flake or crystal of snow
2
: any of a genus (Leucojum) of Old World bulbous plants of the amaryllis family
especially : one (L. vernum) resembling the snowdrop
3
informal + usually disparaging
a
: someone regarded or treated as unique or special
… proclaim that parents need a way for their precious snowflakes to escape failing schools.Harold Cook
Baseball, like no other sport, has stats that make a special snowflake out of every player.Ben Rowen
b
: someone who is overly sensitive
One side derides the youth driving the movement as snowflakes and social justice warriors, too sensitive and too politically correct.Vanessa McCray
We are not delicate creatures. We are not snowflakes.Rosie DiManno

Examples of snowflake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rain looks to move in from west to east around 9 to 11 a.m., perhaps briefly mixing with a spotty snowflake or sleet pellet north and west of D.C. at the onset. Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2023 For a new spin on a personalized ornament, try this wooden one that looks like a snowflake but has your name inside. Katie Melynn, Peoplemag, 29 Nov. 2022 For an assortment of the Oak Cliff chocolatier’s goodies, get the gift box ($30) which includes 2-ounce of Sea Salt Pistachio Bark, 2 ounces of bean-to-bar chocolate, a chocolate snowflake, and a white chocolate snowman. Dallas News, 25 Nov. 2022 There are also festive options, including snowflake and Christmas elk patterns. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 15 Dec. 2022 Prior odds of a shower or snowflake have dwindled to an extremely small chance or a raindrop. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 9 Dec. 2022 This new drive-through attraction is a mile long and includes 2 million lights synced to holiday music, a 50-foot-tall tree, a 25-foot-tall gingerbread house, a 16-foot-tall snowflake and seven tunnels. Dallas News, 15 Nov. 2022 Glide on the ice among the downtown skyscrapers and pine trees while festive tunes and snowflake lighting make the mood merry. Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2021 Simply open the foil packet at the bottom corner (with the tiny snowflake), and pop it on! Kat Hillman | Iron Monk Solutions, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snowflake.' 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

1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of snowflake was in 1734

Dictionary Entries Near snowflake

Cite this Entry

“Snowflake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowflake. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

snowflake

noun
snow·​flake ˈsnō-ˌflāk How to pronounce snowflake (audio)
: a flake or crystal of snow

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