thumbprint

noun

thumb·​print ˈthəm-ˌprint 

1

: an impression made by the thumb

especially : a print made by the inside of the first joint

2

: something that identifies

especially : fingerprint sense 2a

Examples of thumbprint in a Sentence

He left a dirty thumbprint on the page.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the Prairie School thumbprint that Condé Nast Traveler ranks among the world's best small cities for architecture lovers. — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

The island was a thumbprint off the coast of Virginia, the population less than a thousand. — Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

But stumbling into a town with a visual landscape that still shows Guedes' thumbprint was a delight. — Matt Ozug, NPR, 17 June 2026

This spin on classic thumbprint cookies is guaranteed to delight the chocolate lover in your life. — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for thumbprint

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

Kids Definition

thumbprint

noun

thumb·​print ˈthəm-ˌprint 

: an impression made by the thumb