carbon footprint

noun

: the amount of greenhouse gases and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person's activities or a product's manufacture and transport) during a given period

Examples of carbon footprint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Environmental impact Wood pulp and hemp papers leave the biggest carbon footprint, while rice paper is the most sustainable. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Their carbon footprint also depends on whether the electricity powering them comes from low-carbon or fossil-fuel sources. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026

The study found that on the supply side, the carbon footprint of an individual battery could be reduced by about 34 percent by 2050. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Hamilton urged his parishioners to find ways to minimize their carbon footprint. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carbon footprint

• blueprint
• imprint
• misprint
• newsprint
• nonprint
• preprint
• reprint
• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• lint

Kids Definition

carbon footprint

noun

: the amount of greenhouse gases and especially carbon dioxide given off by something (as a person's activities or a product's manufacture and transport) during a given period