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

The Terrys kept 95% of the original footprint of the house, and slowly but managed to add three and a half bathrooms to the space, creating an ensuite for each bedroom. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 13 June 2024

Best Things to Do Awana Spa This place exudes tranquility right down to its footprint, which features curvilinear walls in the shape of a recumbent Buddha. —David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2024

The search giant expects to employ as many as 20,000 tech workers within the transit village’s footprint, once the office buildings are complete, a process that will likely occur in phases. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024

In addition to the physical complexities of tornado formation, tornado trends can be affected by increasing city footprints (more things for tornadoes to damage), improving technology (modern radar can better identify tornadoes), and changes in tornado reporting and surveying methods overtime. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 6 June 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