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

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

4

: something that identifies

a genetic footprint

Synonyms of footprint

• footstep

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

Stephanie picked Gwen’s footprints, but the tattoo artist had to size them down to fit. — Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2026

Photos taken by her field partner, Sonya Maple, a co-author on the paper, show Karapetrova knee-deep in fresh snow, ringed by peaks, the only signs of people the two women’s ski tracks and footprints. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

That could give automakers more room to extend driving range within the same battery pack footprint. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026

Navigating The Specifics This is where technology can become particularly useful, such as a system designed around the employer’s actual plan, provider network and geographic footprint. — Soniya Bopache, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing footprint

• carbon footprint
• digital footprint

Rhymes for footprint

• blueprint
• imprint
• misprint
• newsprint
• nonprint
• preprint
• reprint
• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• lint

Kids 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