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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Pacers’ 24 turnovers were among the most in a finals game, but the mistakes are a footnote instead of a cause of disappointment. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 6 June 2025 After a brief theatrical run, a slightly longer tenure on VOD and a lifetime of cable re-runs every Father’s Day, this frontier opus would trot off into the sunset as a footnote in Alec Baldwin‘s post-30 Rock, pre-reality TV show career. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
Verb
Meaning was no longer handed down from the heavens; it was drafted, debated, and footnoted by men in powdered wigs. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 Rigorously footnoted, informed by interviews with fellow company members as well as industry figures, the book is shaped by Almond’s own memories as a cast member making his Broadway debut. Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for footnote

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

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Cite this Entry

“Footnote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footnote. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on footnote

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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