# snowflake

/ˈsnoʊˌfɫeɪk/ (US) · /snˈəʊfleɪk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/snowflake
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a person who is easily offended or thinks they are very special and unique. It is often used as an insult for people who are seen as too sensitive.

For teachers: a person perceived as having an inflated sense of uniqueness or being overly sensitive to perceived slights. Often used pejoratively in political or social discourse to dismiss an opponent's concerns as fragile.

## Examples

- He called me a snowflake just because I complained about the noise.
- The term snowflake became a common insult on social media to mock people who express strong emotional reactions to controversial topics.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a derogatory label in informal or political contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.