footprint
noun
foot·print
ˈfu̇t-ˌprint 
1
: an impression of the foot on a surface
2
a
: the area on a surface covered by something
a tire with a wide footprint
the footprint of a laser beam
… a mini-transmitter … with a modest 5-inch x 5-inch x 3-inch footprint …—
Dennis P. Barker
Dennis P. Barker
b
: range of operation (as of a service)
a global footprint
3
: a marked effect, impression, or impact
left a footprint in the field of research
An Austrian artist canceled plans to sell 300 items of digital art … because of their mind-boggling environmental footprint.—Natasha Frost
see also carbon footprint
Natasha Frost4
: something that identifies
a genetic footprint
Examples of footprint in a Sentence
The child left her tiny footprints in the snow.
He walked into the kitchen with his boots on, making muddy footprints on the floor.
The new model has a smaller footprint than the older model.
Recent Examples on the Web
International footprints are becoming the norm among Gulf property developers who were once locally-focused.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
The law aims to reduce the industry's single-use plastic footprint.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
The goal now is to pivot Pupa Milano from an Italian beauty darling to a global beauty brand, raising its international profile by further sharpening its product innovation and catchy communication, as well as investing in boosting its distribution footprint.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Dec. 2025
The revival’s cultural footprint continues to expand with the recent release of Music from Waiting for Godot, a full-length album composed and produced by Ben and Max Ringham featuring 13 tracks of original instrumental music inspired by the production.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for footprint
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
The law aims to reduce the industry's single-use plastic footprint.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
The goal now is to pivot Pupa Milano from an Italian beauty darling to a global beauty brand, raising its international profile by further sharpening its product innovation and catchy communication, as well as investing in boosting its distribution footprint.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Dec. 2025
The revival’s cultural footprint continues to expand with the recent release of Music from Waiting for Godot, a full-length album composed and produced by Ben and Max Ringham featuring 13 tracks of original instrumental music inspired by the production.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for footprint
Cite this Entry
“Footprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footprint. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
footprint
noun
foot·print
ˈfu̇t-ˌprint
: a track left by the foot
Medical Definition
footprint
noun
foot·print
ˈfu̇t-ˌprint
: an impression of the foot on a surface
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