footnote

IPA/ˈfʊtnəʊt/
KK[fˈʊtnˌot]IPA/ˈfʊtnəʊt/

footnote — noun

  • footnotesingular
  • footnotesplural

1. A brief note positioned in the lower margin of a printed page, providing extra e

1.nounB2
Definition

A brief note positioned in the lower margin of a printed page, providing extra explanation or showing the source for material discussed in the body of the text.

Example

The professor told us to check the footnote on page 34 for the full reference.

Sofie added a footnote to her paper to explain where she found the old letter.

add a footnote to explain [source]

Common collocations
  • add a footnote
  • check a footnote
  • see footnote [number]
  • footnote at the bottom
  • footnote on page
Synonyms
  • endnote

    Placed at the end of a chapter or book rather than at the bottom of the page

  • annotation

    A broader term covering any explanatory note; may appear in margins or between lines, not necessarily numbered

  • citation

    A formal reference to a source, often following a specific style; may be placed in a footnote or elsewhere

  • comment

    A general term for an explanatory remark, not restricted to academic formatting

Grammar Patterns

footnote + number

in a footnote

footnote on page [number]

Usage Note

A superscript number in the main text typically marks the point where readers should look for the footnote below.

Common Mistakes

I put a foot note at the bottom of the essay.
I put a footnote at the bottom of the essay.
'footnote' is written as one word, not two.

2. A thing — such as an event, a person, or a piece of information — that has very

2.nounC1
Definition

A thing — such as an event, a person, or a piece of information — that has very little importance when viewed within a larger situation or narrative.

Example

The scandal was merely a footnote in the president's long career.

merely a footnote

For most voters, that small election is just a footnote in the country's history.

a footnote in [something]

Common collocations
  • mere footnote
  • historical footnote
  • footnote in history
  • footnote to an era
Synonyms
  • trifle

    Emphasises something trivial or of little value; stronger than 'footnote'

  • sideline

    Suggests something pushed to the edge of attention, not central

  • afterthought

    Implies something added late or with little consideration

Antonyms
  • highlight

    The most important or memorable part of an event or story

  • centerpiece

    The main focus or most prominent feature

Grammar Patterns

a footnote in [something]

a footnote to [something]

just a footnote

Usage Note

Always singular. Commonly used in the phrase 'a footnote in history' or 'a footnote to [something]' to downplay the importance of an event.

Common Mistakes

The event was just a foot in history.
The event was just a footnote in history.
The figurative use preserves the whole compound word 'footnote', not just 'foot'.

footnote — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Footnote, endnote, annotation, and citation all refer to extra information added to a written text, but they differ in placement and purpose. A footnote sits at the bottom of the page containing the reference, letting the reader see it without flipping pages. An endnote is placed at the end of a chapter or book, which keeps the page uncluttered but requires turning to a different section. An annotation is a broader term for any brief explanatory comment — it may appear in the margin, between lines, or even in a footnote, and is not necessarily numbered. A citation is a formal reference to a source, usually following a specific style such as MLA or APA; it can appear inside a footnote, an endnote, or a standalone bibliography. For example, a history essay might use footnotes for citations and include marginal annotations that comment on the reliability of each source.

footnote ↗endnote ↗annotation ↗citation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • footnote reference
  • footnote format
  • footnote number

Adverbs

Phrases

  • see footnote
  • add a footnote
  • become a footnote
  • remain a footnote

Prepositions

  • in a footnote
  • as a footnote
  • on page [number]

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'footnote' is a compound formed in English from 'foot' (the lowest part of a page, from Old English 'fōt') and 'note' (a brief written record, from Latin 'nota' meaning a mark or sign, via Old French). It first appeared in English writing in the mid-19th century, literally describing a note placed at the 'foot' or bottom of a page.