snowbird
noun
Did you know?
Snowbird has been in use since the late 1600s, but it has only been applied to humans since the early 1900s. It was first used to describe men who enlisted in the armed forces to get food and clothing during the winter months and then deserted as the warm spring weather approached. Not long after, the term was applied to the northern laborers who would flock down south to work as the cold, harsh winter set in up north. Today, northerners of all kinds, from vacationers to retirees, can be seen migrating as soon as the first frost arrives.
Examples of snowbird in a Sentence
Roger Sands, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Mild winters, sweeping Sonoran Desert landscapes and easy access to iconic natural attractions have made the state a magnet for snowbirds, digital nomads and full-time RVers alike.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Winter travel is often associated with either snowbirds heading down south to resorts or snow-lovers heading to the mountains — but there are plenty of cities worldwide that are worth visiting in the wintertime, when things are a little slower and a more local vibe turns out.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Though they’re retired, the snowbirds divide their time between Florida and New Jersey and are not the types to lie around.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for snowbird
Cite this Entry
“Snowbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowbird. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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snowbird
noun
