footprint

noun

foot·​print ˈfu̇t-ˌprint How to pronounce footprint (audio)
1
: an impression of the foot on a surface
2
a
: the area on a surface covered by something
a tire with a wide footprint
the footprint of a laser beam
b
: range of operation (as of a service)
a global footprint
3
: a marked effect, impression, or impact
left a footprint in the field of research
4
: something that identifies
a genetic footprint

Examples of footprint in a Sentence

The child left her tiny footprints in the snow. He walked into the kitchen with his boots on, making muddy footprints on the floor. The new model has a smaller footprint than the older model.
Recent Examples on the Web Over the weekend, Billy Dee Williams and Lois Burwell will be honored, author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award, and Jodie Foster will participate in a hand-and footprint ceremony. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 Charging stations provided by AT&T will be available near the information tent and cantina and in the AT&T footprint. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2024 DuckDuckGo keeps a record of the companies that have the biggest tracking footprint across the web. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024 And as climate change threatens global food security, python farming could be one possible way to produce a source of protein with a relatively small environmental footprint, the researchers report. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 But the complaints, Detroit observers say, generally arose from businesses that were farther away from the NFL footprint, held around the city's historic Union Station. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 Poppi Photography Because, as Tessa describes it, there was a lot to program in a small footprint (a washer and dryer, water heater, et cetera), smart storage was needed. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 In the early oughts, Blake’s band Daybreak and Pig Destroyer were both fledgling bands of malcontents fighting to establish our footprint in the scene. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2024 Fenway Park and Wrigley Field have both expanded beyond that small footprint. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'footprint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footprint was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near footprint

Cite this Entry

“Footprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footprint. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

footprint

noun
foot·​print ˈfu̇t-ˌprint How to pronounce footprint (audio)
: a track left by the foot

Medical Definition

footprint

noun
foot·​print ˈfu̇t-ˌprint How to pronounce footprint (audio)
: an impression of the foot on a surface

More from Merriam-Webster on footprint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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