blizzard

noun

bliz·​zard ˈbli-zərd How to pronounce blizzard (audio)
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 adjective
or less commonly blizzardly

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
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.
After the January blizzard, which dumped the most snow on Kansas City at one time in several decades, snow plow crews in Kansas City, Kansas, faced complications from the heavy snow and icy conditions on the roads, prompting resident complaints about the removal progress. Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2025 There is a blizzard warning in place for the Keweenaw Peninsular in Michigan. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025 As one of the worst blizzards in decades buried Alaska in snow, officials ordered additional relay teams to ensure safe delivery of the antitoxin. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025 Along with the cold will come the chance for a significant snowstorm, one that could eventually bring blizzard conditions to parts of the East Coast. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blizzard

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blizzard was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blizzard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blizzard. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

blizzard

noun
bliz·​zard ˈbliz-ərd How to pronounce blizzard (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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