# footer

/ˈfʊtɝ/ (US) · /fˈʊtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/footer
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. bottom of a page

noun · CEFR B2

a small area at the bottom of a document page that shows things like page numbers or the date.

For teachers: a dedicated area at the bottom margin of a printed or digital page, typically containing metadata such as pagination, dates, or copyright notices.

- You can add your name and the date to the footer of every page in the report.
- The corporate style guide requires the company logo and legal disclaimer to appear in the footer of all external documents.

Usage: Usually countable; often contrasted with 'header'.

### 2. measurement in feet

noun · CEFR B2

used in words that describe how many feet long or tall something is.

For teachers: used in combination with a number to denote an object's length, height, or depth in feet.

- He bought a ten-footer boat for fishing in the small lake.
- The storm surge was so powerful that it easily cleared the five-footer sea wall protecting the coastal properties.

Usage: Always used in compounds with a number, such as 'six-footer'.

### 3. football

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Informal

a casual way to say football or soccer.

For teachers: a slang term for association football or the ball itself.

- Do you want to go to the park for a game of footer after school?
- The local kids were always out on the green playing footer until the streetlights came on.

Teaching tip: This is a very informal Britishism; learners should use 'football' in any standard or professional context.

### 4. to waste time

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Informal

to spend time doing small, unimportant things without finishing anything.

For teachers: to occupy oneself with trivial tasks or to move things around aimlessly without achieving a result.

- Stop footering about with those papers and help me move the table.
- He spent the entire afternoon footering with the engine, but he still couldn't get the car to start.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'about' or 'around'.

Teaching tip: Primarily heard in Scotland and Ireland; most English speakers would use 'faff about' or 'mess around' instead.

## Examples

- The page number is in the footer.
- Most professional websites include their contact information and social media links in the footer for easy access.
- When designing the document template, ensure the footer remains consistent across all sections to maintain a professional appearance and provide clear navigation for the reader.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.