imprint

1 of 2

verb

im·​print im-ˈprint  ˈim-ˌprint 

imprinted; imprinting; imprints

transitive verb

1

: to mark by or as if by pressure : impress

2

a

: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)

b

: to subject to or induce by imprinting

an imprinted preference

intransitive verb

: to undergo imprinting

imprinter

im-ˈprin-tər 

ˈim-ˌprin-

noun

imprint

2 of 2

noun

im·​print ˈim-ˌprint 

: something imprinted or printed: such as

a

: a mark or depression made by pressure

the fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot

b

: an identifying name (as of a publisher) placed conspicuously on a product

also : the name under which a publisher issues books

c

: an indelible distinguishing effect or influence

Synonyms

Verb

• brand
• engrave
• etch
• impress
• infix
• ingrain
• engrain

Noun

• trace
• track
• trail

Examples of imprint in a Sentence

Verb

wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the company logo

a picture imprinted in my memory

Noun

We saw an imprint of a bike tire on the dirt trail.

a fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As the faithful hold it, La Virgen imprinted herself on the Nahua man Juan Diego’s cloak, or tilma, by way of out-of-season roses. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024

This Middle Eastern legacy is imprinted on the Kenyan coast, as ever-present as the jagged cries of Indian crows and the low, incessant rumble of waves hitting the reef more than half a mile out to sea. —Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Nov. 2024

Noun

The nature of this acclaim is eliciting an unusual level of glee from Trump — a man who biographers say has never quite left behind the outer-borough imprint of his upbringing in Queens, N.Y., where his family’s wealth was never enough to buy him full entrée into the Manhattan cultural elite. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 14 Dec. 2024

Graham King, in a reported seven-figure deal, tried to launch a Liefeld-verse with characters from the creator’s Extreme Studios imprint ion 2017. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English emprenten, from Anglo-French emprient, 3rd singular of enpreindre to impress (from Latin imprimere) & empreinter, from emprent, past participle of enpreindre

Noun

Middle English enpreent, from Anglo-French emprente, from feminine of emprent, past participle of enpreindre

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing imprint

• put one's imprint on

Kids Definition

imprint

1 of 2 verb

im·​print im-ˈprint 

ˈim-ˌ

1

: to mark by or as if by pressure : stamp

2

: to fix firmly (as on the memory)

3

: to go through the process of imprinting

imprint

2 of 2 noun

im·​print ˈim-ˌprint 

1

: something imprinted or printed : impression

the imprint of a hippo's foot

2

: a publisher's name on the title page of a book

Medical Definition

imprint

transitive verb

im·​print im-ˈprint  ˈim-ˌ 

1

: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)

2

: to subject to or induce by imprinting

an imprinted preference

a gene imprinted to be inactive when inherited from the mother

intransitive verb

: to undergo imprinting

imprinter

-ər 

noun