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
The footprints were later washed away, though archaeologists successfully made 3D models and physical casts before they were destroyed.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
The trail would fit within the existing footprint of Irving Street, shrinking the width used for vehicular traffic.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
An elephant's muddy footprint is on a wooden pole of the fence, pushed to the ground.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
The second prototype is the Essentials, which is a smaller footprint (approximately 2,000 square feet, compared to the Legacy’s 3,000) that doesn’t include the A-frame but keeps the brand’s orange-and-white stripes at the forefront.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for footprint
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Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
The trail would fit within the existing footprint of Irving Street, shrinking the width used for vehicular traffic.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
An elephant's muddy footprint is on a wooden pole of the fence, pushed to the ground.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
The second prototype is the Essentials, which is a smaller footprint (approximately 2,000 square feet, compared to the Legacy’s 3,000) that doesn’t include the A-frame but keeps the brand’s orange-and-white stripes at the forefront.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for footprint
Cite this Entry
“Footprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footprint. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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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