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

In the West, an unprecedented March heat wave made worse by planet-warming pollution also further depleted the dismal snowpack from a winter filled with more blue skies than snowflakes. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

In the West, an unprecedented March heat wave made worse by planet-warming pollution also further depleted the dismal snowpack from a winter filled with more blue skies than snowflakes. —Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026

Like the rest of the spaces, the bedrooms act as miniature galleries for the Wirths’ collection—mine had snowflakes stenciled on the rough white walls and 19th-century mountain scenes; Gerhard Richter’s pencil drawings of Sils can be found in the family suite on the top floor. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

The day was complete with snowflake balloons, Elsa and Anna cardboard cutouts and a massive pink cake. —Jacklyn Krol, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 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