Definition

A mark or impression left by a foot on a surface, or the area that something occupies.

Example

The hiker noticed a large footprint in the mud along the trail.

Conversation

Did you see the footprint we found on the beach yesterday?

Yeah, it looked like a big one!

I wonder what kind of animal left that footprint.

Maybe it was a dog, but it could have been something more interesting.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Footprint → It is formed from "foot" (from Old English "fōt", meaning the lower extremity of the leg) and "print" (from Old French "printe", meaning to press or mark). The word "footprint" refers to the mark left by a foot on a surface.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'foot' as the part of the leg that leaves a 'mark' ('print') on the ground — that's what a footprint is.

Visually Confused Words