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

Vianode’s synthetic graphite already has a carbon footprint 90 percent lower than that of standard industry materials. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 2026

For example, switching from coal to bioenergy cuts electricity’s carbon footprint by 70%—but increases its water footprint more than 30-fold and its land footprint 100-fold. —Simmone Shah, Time, 3 June 2026

The initiative is meant to help people reduce their carbon footprint, save fuel, ease traffic congestion, improve air quality and increase physical activity, according to a news release from the transportation department. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 3 June 2026

Eco effort Energy-efficient systems and refillable amenities help lessen this hotel’s carbon footprint. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 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