snowflake

[snoh-fleyk]

noun

1. one of the small, feathery masses or flakes in which snow falls.

2. Facetious Slang.,  a person who is considered unique and deserving of special treatment.

   I have twenty-eight special snowflakes in my classroom, and their parents’ demands make teaching impossible!

3. Slang.,  a person who is easily offended, overly sensitive, or emotionally fragile.

   You snowflakes need to leave your safe spaces and engage with people who disagree with your beliefs.

4. Meteorology.

   1. an agglomeration of snow crystals falling as a unit.

   2. any snow particle.

5. any of certain European plants belonging to the genus Leucojum, of the amaryllis family, resembling the snowdrop.

6. snow bunting.

snowflake

/ ˈsnəʊˌfleɪk /

noun

1. one of the mass of small thin delicate arrangements of ice crystals that fall as snow

2. any of various European amaryllidaceous plants of the genus Leucojum, such as L. vernum ( spring snowflake ), that have white nodding bell-shaped flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of snowflake¹

First recorded in 1725–35; snow + flake ¹

Example Sentences

The arrival of only one snowflake adds to Gobo’s severe case of writer’s block.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A dusting of snowflakes still clung to the envelope, like a sprinkling of white sugar on a cupcake.

Read more on Literature

His movie is paced like a TikTok video, with tricks and quips flying around like snowflakes in a blizzard.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The snowflakes that fell all those centuries ago on the Pamir will finally melt and reveal their secrets.

Read more on Barron's

Since the start of all this madness, I’ve seen the left offer a rejoinder to the snowflake charge: the slogan “ICE Melts,” usually accompanied by a drawing of the action at hand.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sleet 

When To Use

What else does snowflake mean?

No, we're not walking in a winter wonderland. Snowflake, here, is a political insult for someone who is perceived as too sensitive, often used for millennials and liberals.