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

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

4

: something that identifies

a genetic footprint

Synonyms

• footmark
• footstep
• step
• trace
• vestige

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

These materials can then be used to make new batteries, reducing the need for mining and lowering the environmental footprint of EV production. —Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025

This approach not only reduces bandwidth requirements but also decreases the overall energy footprint of AI systems. —David Ly, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

There were 14 local dengue cases in the county last year, and 11 of them were within the footprint of the San Gabriel Valley vector control district. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025

Key questions about the track maker remain unanswered from the footprints alone. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing footprint

• carbon 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