snowfall: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common in weather reports, news, descriptive writing, and everyday conversation about weather.
Quick answer
What does “snowfall” mean?
An event during which snow falls from the sky.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An event during which snow falls from the sky; the amount of snow that falls in a particular period or place.
Used metaphorically to describe a large or sudden quantity of something arriving or descending, similar to falling snow (e.g., a snowfall of paperwork).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. Both use 'snowfall' for the event and the measurement. 'Snow' is more common in casual speech for the event ('We had snow last night').
Connotations
Neutral in both. Associated with winter, weather disruptions, and seasonal activities.
Frequency
Equally frequent in weather-related contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “snowfall” in a Sentence
[area/region] + experienced/recorded/had + [adjective] + snowfall[adjective] + snowfall + verb (e.g., blanketed, disrupted, caused)snowfall + of + [measurement]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “snowfall” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'snowfall' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'snowfall' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - the adjectival form is 'snowy' (e.g., snowy weather). 'Snowfall' is used attributively in compounds like 'snowfall data', 'snowfall warning'.
American English
- N/A - the adjectival form is 'snowy' (e.g., snowy conditions). 'Snowfall' is used attributively in compounds like 'snowfall totals', 'snowfall forecast'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to discuss disruptions to transport, logistics, and workforce attendance. (e.g., 'The heavy snowfall impacted our supply chain.')
Academic
Used in geography, climate science, and environmental studies to measure and discuss precipitation patterns. (e.g., 'The study analysed century-long snowfall data.')
Everyday
Used to describe weather conditions and plan activities. (e.g., 'They're forecasting a snowfall tomorrow, so we might need to work from home.')
Technical
Used in meteorology for precise measurements and forecasts. (e.g., 'The snowfall rate is expected to exceed 2 cm per hour.')
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “snowfall”
- Using 'snowfall' as a verb (e.g., 'It snowfalls' is incorrect; use 'It snows' or 'There is a snowfall').
- Confusing 'snowfall' (the event/amount) with 'snow' (the substance or a general event).
- Using it for very light snow where 'flurry' or 'dusting' is more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. Countable: 'We had three heavy snowfalls this month.' Uncountable: 'The region is prone to snowfall in January.'
'Snow' is the general substance or weather phenomenon. 'Snowfall' specifically refers to the event of snow falling or the quantity of snow that has fallen in a given time/place.
Yes, though it's not the most common metaphor. It describes a large, quiet, or overwhelming amount of something arriving (e.g., 'a snowfall of confetti', 'a snowfall of paperwork').
It is typically measured in centimetres or inches of depth (e.g., 'a 10 cm snowfall'). Meteorologists also measure the water equivalent of snowfall.
An event during which snow falls from the sky.
Snowfall is usually neutral to formal; common in weather reports, news, descriptive writing, and everyday conversation about weather. in register.
Snowfall: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsnəʊ.fɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsnoʊ.fɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A blanket of snow”
- “Snowed under (metaphorically derived from the idea of heavy snowfall covering everything)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word in two parts: 'snow' (frozen precipitation) + 'fall' (the action of descending). It's simply 'snow' that 'falls'.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS DEPTH/COVERAGE (e.g., 'a snowfall of applications'); DIFFICULTY/OBSTRUCTION IS SNOW (e.g., 'snowed under with work').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate use of 'snowfall'?