imprinting

noun

im·​print·​ing ˈim-ˌprin-tiŋ 

im-ˈprin-

: a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (such as a goose) and establishes a behavior pattern (such as recognition of and attraction to its own kind or a substitute)

Examples of imprinting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because of paternal imprinting, that means that the person can’t make many of the genes found in this region, even though the gene from their mother is ok. — Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 15 Apr. 2026

In Scientific American in 1955, Hasler detailed a decade of research into what came to be called olfactory imprinting. — Greg Uyeno, JSTOR Daily, 27 Aug. 2025

Photograph by Mathias Depardon for The New Yorker The idea of imprinting, and of intervening in nature generally, has become more fashionable in conservation circles. — Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

Canon also had to prevent air bubbles from getting between the wafer and the mask during imprinting, which would interfere with the tool’s ability to align the mask to any circuit features already on the wafer. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for imprinting

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

Kids Definition

imprinting

noun

im·​print·​ing ˈim-ˌprint-iŋ 

im-ˈprint-

: a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (as a goose) and that results in the formation of a special way of behaving (as knowing and being attracted to one's own kind)

Medical Definition

imprinting

noun

im·​print·​ing ˈim-ˌprint-iŋ, im-ˈ 

1

: a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (as a greylag goose) and establishes a behavior pattern (as recognition of and attraction to its own kind or a substitute)

2

: genomic imprinting