blizzard

noun

bliz·​zard ˈbli-zərd 

1

: a long severe snowstorm

2

: an intensely strong cold wind filled with fine snow

3

: an overwhelming rush or deluge

a blizzard of mail around the holidays

blizzardy

ˈbli-zər-dē 

adjective

or less commonly blizzardly

ˈbli-ˌzərd-lē 

Did you know?

The earliest recorded appearance of the word blizzard meaning “a severe snowstorm” was in the April 23, 1870 issue of a newspaper published in Estherville, Iowa. Blizzard shows up again during the following years in several newspapers in Iowa and neighboring states, and by 1888, when a snowstorm paralyzed the Eastern seaboard, the word was well-known nationally. However, in other senses, the word blizzard existed earlier. Davy Crockett, for instance, used it twice in the 1830s, once to mean a rifle blast and once to mean for a blast of words. All of these uses seem related, but the ultimate origin of the word is still unclear.

Examples of blizzard in a Sentence

We were snowed in by a raging blizzard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Our scheduled Rainier date approached and miserable white-out blizzard conditions prompted us to make a rational decision. —Jamie Shandro, Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2024

After playing one game in a blizzard and another in pouring rain, a regressing Brock Purdy should feel better in balmy Miami. —Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024

Some areas have already suffered from whiteout conditions during blizzards, while storms have sparked power outages elsewhere. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

This blizzard screams Christmas and is chock full of peppermint candy cane pieces, chocolate chunks, and cocoa fudge. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

blizzard

noun

bliz·​zard ˈbliz-ərd 

1

: a long heavy snowstorm

2

: a very strong cold wind filled with fine snow

3

: an overwhelming rush or deluge

a blizzard of mail