noun
snowflake
SNOH-flayk
Snowflake (noun) means a single small crystal of falling snow, usually with six-sided symmetry. Example: “Under the microscope, no two snowflakes looked exactly alike.”
noun
1
A single small crystal of falling snow, usually with six-sided symmetry.
"Under the microscope, no two snowflakes looked exactly alike."
2
Informal, often disapproving: someone seen as overly sensitive to criticism or offense.
"He dismissed the criticism by calling his critics snowflakes."
How to use snowflake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally a tiny snow crystal; as slang, a dismissive label for someone considered easily offended.
When to use it
The slang sense is informal and often used as an insult in political or online arguments — it can come across as dismissive or inflammatory.
Common pairings
delicate snowflake
unique snowflake
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Word forms
- Plural
- snowflakes
- Third person singular
- snowflakes
- Past tense
- snowflaked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Under the microscope, no two _____ looked exactly alike.
Etymology
Formed from snow and flake. Compare Saterland Frisian Sneeflokke (“snowflake”), Dutch sneeuwvlok, Luxembourgish Schnéiflack and German Schneeflocke.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for snowflake
See all rhymes for snowflake →Frequently asked questions
What does “snowflake” mean?
The word “snowflake” means a single small crystal of falling snow, usually with six-sided symmetry. In plain terms, literally a tiny snow crystal; as slang, a dismissive label for someone considered easily offended.
How do you pronounce “snowflake”?
“Snowflake” is pronounced SNOH-flayk (/ˈsnoʊ.fleɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “snowflake” in a sentence?
Here is “snowflake” used in a sentence: “Under the microscope, no two snowflakes looked exactly alike.”
What part of speech is “snowflake”?
“Snowflake” is a noun.
How many meanings does “snowflake” have?
“Snowflake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single small crystal of falling snow, usually with six-sided symmetry.
