What does "footprint" mean?

1. (mark on the ground) the mark or shape left by a foot or shoe on a soft surface like sand, mud, or snow. 2. (environmental impact) the amount of damage or effect that a person, company, or activity has on the environment. 3. (physical space used) the amount of space that an object, like a machine or a building, covers on a surface. 4. (computing resources) the amount of memory or disk space that a computer program needs to run. 5. (market presence) the range of places where a company does business or has shops.

footprint

US //ˈfʊtˌpɹɪnt// UK //fˈʊtpɹɪnt// foot·print

1 mark on the ground (n.)
A2 Elementary

the mark or shape left by a foot or shoe on a soft surface like sand, mud, or snow.

the physical impression left by a foot or footwear on a receptive surface.

Example

We followed the muddy footprints across the kitchen floor to find the dog.

Example

The investigators discovered a single, clear footprint in the damp flowerbed, which they used to identify the suspect's specific brand of running shoe.
2 environmental impact (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Science

the amount of damage or effect that a person, company, or activity has on the environment.

the total environmental impact of an entity or activity, often measured in terms of carbon emissions or resource consumption.

Example

Switching to solar power helped the factory reduce its carbon footprint.

Example

The corporation's annual report detailed new initiatives aimed at minimising their ecological footprint through sustainable sourcing and waste reduction.
- impact
- influence

Show 3 more sensesShow fewer

3 physical space used (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the amount of space that an object, like a machine or a building, covers on a surface.

the area on a surface covered by an item, or the spatial requirements of a piece of equipment.

Example

The new coffee machine has a very small footprint, so it fits perfectly on the counter.

Example

The architect designed the skyscraper with a narrow footprint to comply with the city's strict zoning laws regarding ground-level public space.
4 computing resources (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

the amount of memory or disk space that a computer program needs to run.

the quantity of system resources, such as RAM or storage, required for a software application to function.

Example

This mobile app is popular because it has a light memory footprint and doesn't slow down older phones.

Example

The developers spent months optimising the code to ensure the software maintained a minimal footprint on the server's limited hardware resources.
- usage
- requirement
5 market presence (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal

the range of places where a company does business or has shops.

the geographic extent of a company's operations or market influence.

Example

The bank is looking to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia by opening ten new branches.

Example

Despite the economic downturn, the retail giant managed to maintain its global footprint by pivoting toward a more robust e-commerce strategy.

Origin

From foot + print.