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
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.
This positive development must be juxtaposed against the harsh reality that behind the numbers documenting the massive expansion of the criminal justice footprint in earlier decades lie the personal stories of lives lost, families separated, and communities unnecessarily weakened. Stanley Richards, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025 Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don’t hold up well. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025 Groups comprising more than 200 parishioners from across greater Baltimore proposed a new footprint for the Catholic Church in our city and surrounding communities. William E. Lori, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025 Here on Earth Prime, nine years after a weasel met a particle accelerator and everything started to get weird, the GTI shines as almost the perfect blend of performance and everyday practicality while keeping the footprint small and the sticker price affordable. ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for footprint

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footprint was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Footprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footprint. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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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