footnote

1 of 2

noun

foot·​note ˈfu̇t-ˌnōt How to pronounce footnote (audio)
1
: a note of reference, explanation, or comment usually placed below the text on a printed page
2
a
: one that is a relatively subordinate or minor part (as of an event, work, or field)
a movement now regarded as a footnote to architectural history

footnote

2 of 2

verb

footnoted; footnoting; footnotes

transitive verb

: to furnish with a footnote : annotate

Examples of footnote in a Sentence

Noun a movement now regarded as a footnote to history
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And, if that was not enough, the Court stuck in a footnote about discrete and insular minorities that may have paved the way for the eventual reign of identitarian politics. Janice Rogers Brown, National Review, 22 June 2024 Why Moore is bad news for wealth taxes Kavanaugh claims in a footnote that his opinion does not resolve the question of whether Congress could impose a wealth tax like the one Warren proposed in 2020. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 20 June 2024
Verb
Mere footnotes at the bottom of Brady’s pigskin curriculum vitae. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 Forgotten footnotes in the annals of sports history. Men's Health Editorial, Men's Health, 14 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for footnote 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'footnote.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of footnote was in 1711

Dictionary Entries Near footnote

Cite this Entry

“Footnote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footnote. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

footnote

noun
foot·​note
-ˌnōt
: a note of reference, explanation, or comment usually placed below the text on a printed page
footnote verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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