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

When the user opened the file with a password provided on the website that hosted the file, the first footprint of the malicious payload was delivered to the endpoint. —Poornima Debolle, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Scheduled to receive its first occupants by 2030, the New Murabba development is part of a larger plan first implemented by the Saudi government in 2016 that aims to diversify the nation’s economy and cultural footprint. —Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, several countries in Europe, with Germany leading the way, are increasing their coal power footprint out of energy security concerns, thereby replacing natural gas with the most polluting of any energy source. —Suriya Jayanti, TIME, 20 Oct. 2024

The Pacific Northwest builder has already seen an uptick in more compact footprints, especially with their recent focus on floating homes, which are notoriously small in scale. —Lauren Gallow, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing footprint

• carbon footprint

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