What does snowy mean?
Snowy is an adjective describing conditions, places, or objects covered with snow, or more broadly, anything associated with a cold, wintry landscape. The most common use is literal: a snowy day, winter, road, or field has snow present or falling. Because snow is visually bright and white, the word can also be used figuratively to describe hair, clothing, or scenery that resembles snow. This creates associations with purity, stillness, cold, and quiet beauty. In standard English, snowy is used in both British and American varieties. Although it can function as a verb in the sense of covering something with snow, that use is much less common than the adjective and often sounds literary or archaic. The word derives from the long-established English noun snow and its productive -y suffix.
Covered with or full of snow; cold and wintry. Figuratively, resembling snow in color or appearance.
"A snowy morning transformed the town into a quiet white landscape."
The figurative sense is common in descriptions of hair, clothing, landscapes, and light.
To cover with snow or become covered with snow.
"Winter snowyed the fields and rooftops."
This use is much less common than the adjective and is chiefly literary or older in style.
Snowy is more than a weather word: it can make a landscape seem quiet, bright, and almost otherworldly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of snowy
Snowy is an English formation made by adding the suffix -y to snow. The noun snow descends from Old English snāw, an ancient Germanic word with related forms in other Germanic languages, including German Schnee and Dutch sneeuw. The adjective meaning “covered with snow” developed naturally from the noun, and the verb meaning “to cover with snow” is a less common parallel formation.
Related word forms
How snowy is actually used
Snowy is common in standard English in both British and American usage. It can be literal, describing weather or surfaces covered in snow, or figurative, describing whiteness and an appearance resembling snow. The verb sense is relatively uncommon and often has a literary or older flavor.
Easily confused with snowy
Snowy means covered with or resembling snow, whereas snooty means showing arrogant or superior behavior.