fingerprint

noun

fin·​ger·​print ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprint How to pronounce fingerprint (audio)
1
: the impression of a fingertip on any surface
also : an ink impression of the lines upon the fingertip taken for the purpose of identification
2
: something that identifies: such as
a
: a trait, trace, or characteristic revealing origin or responsibility
b
: analytical evidence (such as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance
especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis
c
: the base-pair pattern in an individual's DNA obtained by DNA fingerprinting
fingerprint transitive verb

Illustration of fingerprint

Illustration of fingerprint
  • 1 arch
  • 2 loop
  • 3 whorl
  • 4 composite

Examples of fingerprint in a Sentence

Detectives found his fingerprints all over the gun. Everyone has a unique fingerprint.
Recent Examples on the Web He was identified from fingerprints and because he was later found driving the vehicle associated with the burglary, police said. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 No fingerprints Veronica Lee: Right But the state pathologist did provide damning testimony. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 Lyft and Uber made good on their word to leave Austin back in 2016 after disputes over fingerprint background checks and other safety protocol. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 These rising temperatures and the shifting of an earlier spring season are the fingerprints of climate change, and NOAA’s chief scientist, Sarah Kapnick, says records will continue to be broken and extreme weather events will grow until emissions are reduced and climate resilience is built. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Different restaurants can choose their tracking options, which can also include fingerprint or face identification. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 PreCheck, which requires an in-person appointment to show documents and give fingerprints, and biometric verification by Clear, a private screening company, have helped to reduce the wait time for screening, but air travelers still must occasionally stand in long queues to get to their gates. Christine Chung, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Officers found the phone discarded in the area and returned it to the victim after processing it for fingerprints. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Throughout the investigation, police tried to identify the man through interviews, fingerprints and dental records but were unsuccessful. Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fingerprint.' 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

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fingerprint was in 1737

Dictionary Entries Near fingerprint

Cite this Entry

“Fingerprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fingerprint. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fingerprint

noun
fin·​ger·​print ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprint How to pronounce fingerprint (audio)
: the pattern of marks made by pressing the tip of a finger on a surface
especially : a pattern of marks in ink of the lines on the tip of a finger taken for the purpose of identification
fingerprint verb
fingerprinting
-ˌprin-tiŋ
noun

Medical Definition

fingerprint

1 of 2 noun
fin·​ger·​print -ˌprint How to pronounce fingerprint (audio)
1
: the impression of a fingertip on any surface
especially : an ink impression of the lines on the fingertip taken for purpose of identification
2
: analytical evidence (as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance
especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis compare dna fingerprinting

fingerprint

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to analyze (as spectrographically or chromatographically) in order to determine uniquely the identifying characteristics, origin, or constitution of
each protein was fingerprinted
fingerprinting noun

Legal Definition

fingerprint

noun
fin·​ger·​print
: the impression of a fingertip on any surface
also : an ink impression of the lines upon the fingertip taken for the purpose of identification (as during the booking procedure following an arrest) see also dna fingerprinting
fingerprint transitive verb
fingerprinting noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fingerprint

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