blueprint

noun blue·print \ -ˌprint \

Updated on: 7 May 2018

Definition of blueprint

1 : a photographic print in white on a bright blue ground or blue on a white ground used especially for copying maps, mechanical drawings, and architects' plans

2 : something resembling a blueprint (as in serving as a model or providing guidance); especially : a detailed plan or program of action

a blueprint for victory

—

blueprint

transitive verb

See blueprint defined for English-language learners

See blueprint defined for kids

Examples of blueprint in a Sentence

a blueprint for reforming the public school system
an ambitious young man with a remarkably detailed blueprint for becoming a millionaire by the age of 25

Recent Examples of blueprint from the Web

Instead of trying to build a winner, the Astros must sustain their success in an era with so many rivals copying their old blueprint of tearing down the present to build for tomorrow.

— tyler kepner, New York Times, "A Numbers Guy Left the Front Office to Coach Prospects. Here’s What He Learned.," 30 Apr. 2018
The Cavaliers didn't follow their series blueprint.

— chris fedor, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers' season-long defensive problems unmasked in Game 6 blowout loss," 28 Apr. 2018
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle are following their own blueprint.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy still lives on in the work of young Baltimore activists," 4 Apr. 2018
Team as an indie-rock touchstone for the early 2000s — bands from Sleigh Bells to the Klaxons would follow its inventive blueprint.

— steve knopper, chicagotribune.com, "The Go! Team used Detroit as the spot for its sonic hijinks," 29 Mar. 2018
San Diego is adding anti-wildfire policies to its development blueprint.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego adding wildfire prevention policies to development blueprint," 26 Mar. 2018
And Hurney actually showed his blueprint for that in October, with the blockbuster trade of big-bodied wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

— jourdan rodrigue, charlotteobserver, "How the Panthers plan to get receivers who can ‘maximize’ Cam Newton’s skills | Charlotte Observer," 5 Mar. 2018
Our original building plans, all of our site improvement plans, all of our blueprints, everything talked about future parking on site at some point.

— evan frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Idea to add parking at Cupola barn in Oconomowoc meets with some resistance from residents," 26 Feb. 2018
Biotech companies have even begun serving up DNA tests that claim to help hungry dieters pair their menus with their biological blueprints.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Low-carb vs low-fat? Both led to ~12lb loss after a year, regardless of genes," 23 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blueprint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.