fingerprinting

noun

fin·​ger·​print·​ing ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprin-tiŋ 

1

: the act or an instance of taking an ink impression of someone's fingerprints for the purpose of identification

sent him in for fingerprinting

also : identification using this process

But he was also concerned that fingerprinting was slipping out of the hands of men like himself whom he considered "scientists" and into the hands of men like Collins whom he regarded as poorly educated clerks.

—Simon Cole

2

: identification by analyzing characteristics unique to individuals

genetic fingerprinting

protein fingerprinting

Examples of fingerprinting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, in 1984, a British geneticist named Alec Jeffreys discovered DNA fingerprinting, which allowed scientists to take a sample of hair, skin, or saliva and single out a sequence of nucleotides specific to one person. —Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025

Implementing multiple security layers, such as device fingerprinting, multifactor authentication and other methods of verification, can help thwart attacks. —Dan Pinto, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

These services use advanced fingerprinting, machine learning, and real-time decision-making to control what each visitor sees. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2025

On the night of Sunday, July 6, Betty’s remains were identified through fingerprinting, Sherry told KVUE. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 8 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fingerprinting

• DNA fingerprinting
• genetic fingerprinting

Rhymes for fingerprinting

• glinting
• hinting
• minting
• printing
• splinting
• sprinting
• squinting
• tinting
• imprinting
• reprinting
• unstinting