footage

noun

foot·​age ˈfu̇-tij 

1

: recorded video material

A camerawoman from Channel 12 shows up to grab some footage for the evening news.

—Bari Walsh

Video footage posted online shows him daring an audience member to fight …

—Latifah Muhammad

Ramsay uses security footage from inside and outside of the brownstone to detail Joe's actions.

—Kyle Turner

The documentary series that presents archival images and film footage in color continues, this week focusing on memorable events from the 1940s.

—Kristi Turnquist

2

: length or quantity expressed in feet: such as

a

: board feet

b

: the total number of running feet of motion-picture film used (as for a scene or subject)

The people of Hiroshima had a fund-raising campaign to purchase footage from films taken by American photographers … . They calculated they could purchase ten feet of footage for one thousand yen …

—Ruth Ann Keyso and Masahide Ota

Examples of footage in a Sentence

Some disturbing footage of the war was shown on the evening news.

Recent Examples on the Web

The footage also allegedly showed Bomfim punching the baby in the back of his head with a closed fist. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Among the shockers in the graphic 2007 footage, Hulk is heard using racial slurs about Brooke’s then boyfriend, Miami producer Yannique Barker. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Investigators used footage to identify suspects and their vehicle, eventually obtaining warrants for several people. — Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026

The film is an hour long, full not only of archival footage of Moss’ career, but also conversations between the two men, as well as appearances from other beloved personalities, like the great Murray Walker. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing footage

• stock footage

Kids Definition

footage

noun

foot·​age ˈfu̇-tij 

1

: length measured in feet

2

: scenes or action recorded on film or video