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blizzard

noun bliz·zard \ ˈbli-zərd \
|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Definition of blizzard

1 : a long severe snowstorm
2 : an intensely strong cold wind filled with fine snow
3 : an overwhelming rush or deluge
  • a blizzard of mail around the holidays
—

blizzardy

play \ˈbli-zər-dē\ or less commonly blizzardly play \-ˌzərd-lē\ adjective

See blizzard defined for English-language learners

See blizzard defined for kids

Examples of blizzard in a Sentence

  1. We were snowed in by a raging blizzard.

Recent Examples of blizzard from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blizzard.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The earliest recorded appearance of the word blizzard meaning “a severe snowstorm” was in the April 23, 1870 issue of a newspaper published in Estherville, Iowa. Blizzard shows up again during the following years in several newspapers in Iowa and neighboring states, and by 1888, when a snowstorm paralyzed the Eastern seaboard, the word was well-known nationally. However, in other senses, the word blizzard existed earlier. Davy Crocket, for instance, used it twice in the 1830s, once to mean a rifle blast and once to mean for a blast of words. All of these uses seem related, but the ultimate origin of the word is still unclear.

Origin and Etymology of blizzard

origin unknown

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

BLIZZARD Defined for English Language Learners

blizzard

noun

Definition of blizzard for English Language Learners

  • : a severe snowstorm that goes on for a long time

  • : a large amount of something that comes suddenly

BLIZZARD Defined for Kids

blizzard

noun bliz·zard \ ˈbli-zərd \

Definition of blizzard for Students

: a long heavy snowstorm

Learn More about blizzard

  1. See words that rhyme with blizzard Spanish Central: Translation of blizzard Nglish: Translation of blizzard for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of blizzard for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blizzard

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