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
… a mini-transmitter … with a modest 5-inch x 5-inch x 3-inch footprint …—
Dennis P. Barker
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
An Austrian artist canceled plans to sell 300 items of digital art … because of their mind-boggling environmental footprint.—Natasha Frost
see also carbon footprint
4
: something that identifies
a genetic footprint
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 outage area’s rough footprint is Wellington to the north, Windsor to the east, Horsetooth Reservoir to the south and Ted’s Place to the west.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Firms that own more than 1,000 properties account for more than 10% of the single-family rental market in a handful of metro areas, though their overall footprint nationwide remains relatively limited.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 15 Jan. 2026
Rather than a conventional gallery presentation, Fields & Phantoms transformed its footprint into an immersive work of art, asking viewers to create their own path.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Jan. 2026
Exxon has the largest refining footprint among its peers, Gabelman said.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for footprint
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Cite this Entry
“Footprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footprint. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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
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