footnote

1 of 2

noun

foot·​note ˈfu̇t-ˌnōt 

1

: a note of reference, explanation, or comment usually placed below the text on a printed page

2

a

: one that is a relatively subordinate or minor part (as of an event, work, or field)

a movement now regarded as a footnote to architectural history

b

: commentary sense 3a

footnote

2 of 2

verb

footnoted; footnoting; footnotes

transitive verb

: to furnish with a footnote : annotate

Examples of footnote in a Sentence

Noun

a movement now regarded as a footnote to history

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The winger was only a footnote for Germany at the European Championships last summer and also struggled at the start of the season. —Manuel Veth, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

But to say that Double Exposure throws aside the characters of the original (with the exception of Max herself), to say that the most important choice from it becomes a footnote, well that’s just not at all true. —Ryan Easby, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2024

Verb

The research of others, although abundantly and generously cited, too often seems to footnote Pinker's own prior assumptions. —Timothy Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011

But, no, weirdly enough, the ‘80s aspect of this movie was less about referencing or footnoting things than getting the story right for me. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

footnote

noun

foot·​note

-ˌnōt

: a note of reference, explanation, or comment usually placed below the text on a printed page

footnote verb