snowflake
snowflake — noun
1. one of many small, delicate ice crystals that drift down through the air togethe
one of many small, delicate ice crystals that drift down through the air together during a snowstorm, each with a distinctive six-sided shape
Imran caught a single snowflake on his sleeve and watched it melt within seconds.
countable noun with specific action verb
Each snowflake that landed on the car windshield had a different crystalline shape.
The children opened their mouths to catch snowflakes during the first heavy snowfall of the year.
A single snowflake landed on the tip of Christopher's nose and made him giggle.
- ice crystal
more technical; refers to the molecular structure rather than the visible flake
文法句型
snowflake + verb (falls, lands, melts)
adjective + snowflake
2. a dismissive label for a person regarded as unable to tolerate opposing viewpoin
a dismissive label for a person regarded as unable to tolerate opposing viewpoints or mild criticism without taking personal offence
The senator dismissed the protesters as snowflakes who could not handle a difference of opinion.
political context: dismiss + target as snowflakes
Mira rolled her eyes when her classmate complained about the exam and muttered, "What a snowflake."
informal dismissal of complaint behaviour
Online commenters often use the word snowflake to mock people who ask for trigger warnings before sensitive topics.
Lakan was called a snowflake by a coworker after he asked the team to avoid aggressive language in meetings.
- special snowflake
emphatic variant of the same insult, implying the person believes they are uniquely entitled
文法句型
be a snowflake
call someone a snowflake
snowflake generation
用法筆記
This sense originated in the 2010s as a political insult, especially in US online and campus discourse. It is often aimed at younger generations (hence the phrase 'snowflake generation') and is considered dismissive and derogatory. Avoid using it in neutral or formal writing.
常見錯誤
3. a highly offensive term used to refer to a homosexual man, intended to insult an
a highly offensive term used to refer to a homosexual man, intended to insult and degrade the person it targets
The school suspended a student for repeatedly calling a classmate a snowflake in a homophobic way.
offensive slur context with consequence
Ayana reported a comment on the forum that used snowflake as a homophobic insult.
platform moderation context
A teacher explained to the class that snowflake is a slur when directed at a gay person.
Diego was hurt when a stranger yelled snowflake at him outside a bar near the university.
文法句型
used as a derogatory noun for a gay person
用法筆記
WARNING: This is a homophobic slur. Do not use this word to refer to a gay person. Although less common than other anti-gay slurs, it is deeply offensive and has no place in respectful conversation. The only appropriate context for this sense is when discussing language itself — for example, in a classroom discussion about offensive terms.