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

Some Midwest cities that just saw their first snowflakes of the season could see daily record high temperatures on Saturday, forecasts show. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025

Nashville and the surrounding areas were not expected to receive any snow, and yet reports flowed in of snowflakes around the city. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Nov. 2025

The snowflakes also have a tangle-free design and stack on top of one another for easy storage. —Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025

Other holiday installations and attractions are the Happy Harbor Holiday Live Character Show featuring Sir Winston the Walrus, a Christmas parade, a dinner with orcas show and a nightly snowflake display. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025

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