What is a Snowflake?

Odds are you have heard someone call or refer to someone as a snowflake and wondered what it meant?

A snowflake is someone who is easily offended, has an inflated sense of uniqueness, or is even overly sensitive .



Contrary to some opinions, a snowflake isn't a political statement and can apply to anyone regardless of race, religion, politics, etc. This confusion is because a snowflake is someone who can't deal with opposing views. A snowflake might also be a narcissist.

Many people, myself included, might be surprised to learn of its racist origins.

In the 1860s, "snowflake" was used by abolitionists in Missouri to refer to those who opposed the abolition of slavery. It referred to the color of snow, suggesting white people were more valuable than black people. It is not believed that the word extended beyond the Missouri borders.

In the 1970s, Green's Dictionary of Slang described snowflakes as "a white person or a black person who was perceived as acting too much like a white person."

Fast forward 50 years, and the novelist Chuck Palahniuk takes credit for the current use of snowflakes in his 1996 novel, Fight Club when he wrote, "you are not special, you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake." The current use was used numerous times in articles, movies, politics, and more.

Of course, there are variations. Generation snowflake, snowflake generations, and broflake are some of the snowflake variations you might hear.

Snowflake first appeared on Urban Dictionary in 2017.

Similar:

What is a Simp?

What Is a Karen?

What is Mansplaining?

What is Ghosting?

What is Leetspeak?

comments powered by Disqus