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

Temperature, water content and the crystal shapes of snowflakes dictate a lot about which skis and wax are used during competition events, Schumacher said. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026

Wandering the icy streets of Cortina in a furry hat, houndstooth coat and enough swagger to make the snowflake medal hanging from his neck jangle in agreement, Coach Snoop (as one of his beanies reads) appears in his element. —Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

While the left is often accused of being political snowflakes, Morgan sees MAGA’s complete meltdown over Bad Bunny to be more or less that. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026

Just like natural snow, artificial snow is a mixture of snow and ice, but the process of creating it differs greatly from the snowflakes that form in the atmosphere. —Simmone Shah, Time, 9 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