fingerprinting

noun

fin·​ger·​print·​ing ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprin-tiŋ 

1

: the act or an instance of taking an ink impression of someone's fingerprints for the purpose of identification

sent him in for fingerprinting

also : identification using this process

But he was also concerned that fingerprinting was slipping out of the hands of men like himself whom he considered "scientists" and into the hands of men like Collins whom he regarded as poorly educated clerks.

—Simon Cole

2

: identification by analyzing characteristics unique to individuals

genetic fingerprinting

protein fingerprinting

Examples of fingerprinting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The report notes that things like advertising IDs, location sharing (which is often enabled by default), and even browser fingerprinting (specifically in Google Chrome) have been used to track US forces deployed to active conflict zones. —Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 280 miles from Antalya to Ankara. —CBS News, 16 May 2026

Their role is to investigate calls, collect evidence (including fingerprinting) and write police reports. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

To identify definite goats versus sheep, the team used protein fingerprinting (ZooMS). —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fingerprinting

• DNA fingerprinting
• genetic fingerprinting

Rhymes for fingerprinting

• glinting
• hinting
• minting
• printing
• splinting
• sprinting
• squinting
• tinting
• imprinting
• reprinting
• unstinting