snowbird

noun

snow·bird ˈsnō-ˌbərd

Synonyms of snowbird next

: any of several birds (such as a junco or fieldfare) seen chiefly in winter

: one who travels to warm climes for the winter

Did you know?

Snowbird has been in use since the late 1600s, but it has only been applied to humans since the early 1900s. It was first used to describe men who enlisted in the armed forces to get food and clothing during the winter months and then deserted as the warm spring weather approached. Not long after, the term was applied to the northern laborers who would flock down south to work as the cold, harsh winter set in up north. Today, northerners of all kinds, from vacationers to retirees, can be seen migrating as soon as the first frost arrives.

Examples of snowbird in a Sentence

Like many of the state's snowbirds, they live in Florida from November through March.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Also a snowbird, Marcia spends about 3-4 winter months on different Regent ships. —

Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Later, tidy plats of cinder block-and-concrete houses for snowbirds and beach motels scattered Anna Maria Island as new properties developed along the gorgeous shore. —

Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024 Arizona is known for its mellow wintertime weather appealing to snowbirds seeking a reprieve from freezing conditions. —

Eshaan Sarup, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 There is a gentleman, also a snowbird, who comes south and stays with the family across the street from me. —

Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for snowbird