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

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

After the strongest storms move out, colder air will settle in with the possibility of a few wet snowflakes before the precipitation tapers off. —Gregory Padgett, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

Mountain snow lingers all week Snow levels are dropping into the valley floors this week, and Seattle could see wet snowflakes as early as late Tuesday, March 10. —Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026

This is, essentially, where snow is born — a layer of air, about 5,000 feet up, cold enough to support the formation of snowflakes. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026

But what about Big Sugar’s snowflake-like feelings? —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for snowflake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

snowflake

noun

snow·​flake ˈsnō-ˌflāk 

: a flake or crystal of snow