fingerprint

noun

fin·​ger·​print ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprint 

1

: the impression of a fingertip on any surface

also : an ink impression of the lines upon the fingertip taken for the purpose of identification

2

: something that identifies: such as

a

: a trait, trace, or characteristic revealing origin or responsibility

b

: analytical evidence (such as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance

especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis

c

: the base-pair pattern in an individual's DNA obtained by DNA fingerprinting

fingerprint transitive verb

Illustration of fingerprint

• 1 arch
• 2 loop
• 3 whorl
• 4 composite

Synonyms of fingerprint

• characteristic
• feature
• trait
• quality
• attribute
• attribution

Examples of fingerprint in a Sentence

Detectives found his fingerprints all over the gun.

Everyone has a unique fingerprint.

Recent Examples on the Web

When the victim’s fingerprints were originally run, the search had been limited to ages 18-25. —Audrey Abrahams, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026

Smith was hired by the archdiocese in 2024, having passed background and fingerprint checks, and worked at at least four schools on the South Side of Chicago and in the south suburbs over the past 16 months. —Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

The app, which Customs and Border Protection said is made by the vendor NEC, uses facial comparison or fingerprint-matching systems. —Garance Burke, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026

But what investors were really keeping their eyes peeled for were signs of political fingerprints on the independent central bank. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fingerprint

• overprint
• peppermint
• blueprint
• footprint
• imprint
• misprint
• newsprint
• nonprint
• preprint
• reprint
• clint
• dint

Kids Definition

fingerprint

noun

fin·​ger·​print ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprint 

: the pattern of marks made by pressing the tip of a finger on a surface

especially : a pattern of marks in ink of the lines on the tip of a finger taken for the purpose of identification

fingerprint verb

fingerprinting

-ˌprin-tiŋ

noun

Medical Definition

fingerprint

1 of 2 noun

fin·​ger·​print -ˌprint 

1

: the impression of a fingertip on any surface

especially : an ink impression of the lines on the fingertip taken for purpose of identification

2

: analytical evidence (as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance

especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis compare dna fingerprinting

fingerprint

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to analyze (as spectrographically or chromatographically) in order to determine uniquely the identifying characteristics, origin, or constitution of

each protein was fingerprinted

fingerprinting noun

Legal Definition

fingerprint

noun

fin·​ger·​print

: the impression of a fingertip on any surface

also : an ink impression of the lines upon the fingertip taken for the purpose of identification (as during the booking procedure following an arrest) see also dna fingerprinting

fingerprint transitive verb

fingerprinting noun