snowflake
noun
snow·flake
ˈsnō-ˌflāk 
1
: a flake or crystal of snow
2
: any of two genera (Leucojum or Acis) 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
Harold CookBaseball, like no other sport, has stats that make a special snowflake out of every player.—Ben Rowen
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
Vanessa McCrayWe are not delicate creatures. We are not snowflakes.—Rosie DiManno
Rosie DiMannoExamples of snowflake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cold air moving over the warmer lake waters is generating narrow, intense bands of precipitation, including a few snowflakes.
—Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
The holiday decor scene is saturated—nutcrackers, gingerbread houses, bow garlands, wreaths, strings of snowflakes, glittery pinecones, and that nativity scene that’s been passed down for generations.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
The decorative leaves of blue hibiscus are palmate, deeply lobed and appear to be the hybrid offspring of an oak leaf and a snowflake.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Northern Arizona will see raindrops instead of snowflakes, as overnight lows in Flagstaff will remain in the 40s and 50s over the next few days.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snowflake
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
The holiday decor scene is saturated—nutcrackers, gingerbread houses, bow garlands, wreaths, strings of snowflakes, glittery pinecones, and that nativity scene that’s been passed down for generations.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
The decorative leaves of blue hibiscus are palmate, deeply lobed and appear to be the hybrid offspring of an oak leaf and a snowflake.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Northern Arizona will see raindrops instead of snowflakes, as overnight lows in Flagstaff will remain in the 40s and 50s over the next few days.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snowflake
Cite this Entry
“Snowflake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowflake. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snowflake
noun
snow·flake
ˈsnō-ˌflāk
: a flake or crystal of snow
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share