blueprint

noun

blue·​print ˈblü-ˌprint How to pronounce blueprint (audio)
plural blueprints
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 or someone resembling a blueprint (as in serving as a model or providing guidance)
… few foundations have taken a similar [investing] route, so there was no blueprint to follow.Paul Sullivan
He was an anomaly to the rap world when he arrived, but today he is the blueprint for a generation.Jeff Ihaza
especially : a detailed plan or program of action
a blueprint for success
blueprint transitive verb
blueprinted; blueprinting; blueprints
It was not something blueprinted from the start or based on a French bistro archetype; it's a restaurant that has grown and evolved … Ian McNulty

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 on the Web Some countries have agreed to a blueprint proposal in the past few weeks, but that will need to be finalized next month. WIRED, 15 Nov. 2023 The Regents exams, some of which must be offered under federal education law, have shaped classrooms statewide since before World War I and were once viewed as a model blueprint for rigorous standards. Troy Closson, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023 The blueprint, first shared with the Washington Examiner earlier this week, represents an opening offer in negotiations over Ukraine as Republicans demand policy changes in exchange for their votes. Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2023 The group disbanded in 1947 but laid the blueprint for the 1963 demonstration of the same name. Zachary Clary, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023 As companies move to create a blueprint for successfully using artificial intelligence, those who understand the benefits and practical applications of AI can differentiate themselves in setting a new standard. Paul Hudson, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2023 The country plans to produce its first humanoid robots by 2025, according to an ambitious blueprint published by the Ministry of Industry and Information (MITT) Technology last week. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2023 Actors and studios hope to establish a blueprint that protects their rights well in the future. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023 Irina Shayk is proving an excellent blueprint for staying comfortable while still looking chic. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2023 See More

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

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blueprint was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near blueprint

Cite this Entry

“Blueprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blueprint. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

blueprint

1 of 2 noun
blue·​print
ˈblü-ˌprint
1
: a photographic print made with white lines on a blue background and used especially for copying mechanical drawings, maps, and architects' plans
2
: a detailed plan or program of action

blueprint

2 of 2 verb
: to make a blueprint of or for

More from Merriam-Webster on blueprint

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