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

This form of teamwork could also be one of the more simple ways for the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint, according to recent research. —Megan Wollerton, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026

With global commerce highly dependent on ships, which carry about 80 percent of goods transported, and shipping accounting for three percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, the shipping industry is coming under pressure to lower its carbon footprint. —Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026

For Reformation, raw material sourcing drives 40 percent of the brand’s total carbon footprint. —Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026

And since it’s made from fossil fuels, the product has a significant carbon footprint. —Kyla Mandel, Time, 15 Apr. 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