Although they can be used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between the two. Snow throwers refer to machines that swallow and spit out snow in a single throwing machine, as is what you’d find in a single-stage snow blower. The technical definition of a snow blower is a two-stage machine that draws in snow and blows it away with an impeller fan. However, you could say two-stage snow thrower and not be snickered at.