Footnote
/ˈfʊtnoʊt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA note at the bottom of a page providing additional information or references related to the main text.
/ˈfʊtnoʊt/
A note placed at the bottom of a page.
I had to read the footnotes to understand the author's references.
💡 Simply: Think of a little helper at the bottom of the page! When you read a book, sometimes there's extra info down there to give you more details about something.
👶 For kids: A little note at the bottom of a page to give you more information.
More Examples
The editor asked me to include a footnote clarifying the meaning of the term.
Scholars frequently cite the footnote to verify the sources.
How It's Used
"The author provided a footnote citing the research paper that supported her argument."
"Readers often refer to footnotes to better understand obscure references or definitions in the main text."
To add a footnote to a written work, document, or piece of text.
/ˈfʊtnoʊt/
To add a footnote to something.
The writer had to footnote the exact source of the quote.
💡 Simply: When you 'footnote' something, you're adding a little note at the bottom of a page to give more details.
👶 For kids: To put a note at the bottom of the page.
More Examples
The editor carefully footnoted all the sources.
You should footnote the name and information.
How It's Used
"The professor instructed students to footnote every quote used in their essays."
"Before the manuscript was sent for publication, the editor needed to footnote several ambiguous statements."
From 'foot' (referring to the bottom of the page) + 'note'. The practice of placing explanatory notes at the foot of a page of text emerged with printed books to provide supplementary information without interrupting the main narrative.
Footnotes have been used since the early days of printing for providing additional context or sources to the main text.
Memory tip
Imagine a foot supporting the page; the note is at the foot, offering support to the text.
Word Origin
"'foot' (referring to the bottom of the page) + 'note' (a written reminder or piece of information)"