blueprint

American  

[bloo-print] / ˈbluˌprɪnt /

noun

1. a process of photographic printing, used chiefly in copying architectural and mechanical drawings, which produces a white line on a blue background.

2. a print made by this process.

3. a detailed outline or plan of action.

   a blueprint for success.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to make a blueprint of or for.

blueprint British  

/ ˈbluːˌprɪnt /

noun

1. Also called: cyanotype.  a photographic print of plans, technical drawings, etc, consisting of white lines on a blue background

2. an original plan or prototype that influences subsequent design or practice

   the Montessori method was the blueprint for education in the 1940s

---

verb

1. (tr) to make a blueprint of (a plan)

Other Word Forms

• blueprinter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of blueprint

First recorded in 1885–90; blue + print

Explanation

A blueprint is a guide for making something — it's a design or pattern that can be followed. Want to build the best tree house ever? Draw up a blueprint and follow the design carefully. The literal meaning of a blueprint is a paper — which is blue — with plans for a building printed on it. You can also call other guides or plans blueprints. The way you do your homework every night could provide a blueprint for your little sister’s study habits. A business plan is a blueprint for a profitable business. Religions and philosophies provide the blueprint for many people’s lives. A blueprint helps you figure out what to do.

Example Sentences

The billionaire investor, now 95, added that highlighting how you want others to remember you can give you a blueprint for avoiding mistakes and solidifying your reputation.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Megyn Kelly called him a “star,” and Meghan McCain declared him “the blueprint for how my generation of older millennials needs to communicate and present their ideas and campaign messaging when running for office.”

From Salon • May 18, 2026

"This is the blueprint of my life," said the actor, a lifelong aeroplane nut, who narrates the story.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

An ambitious blueprint for far-reaching economic overhauls was quietly shelved this spring because coalition leaders couldn’t agree on the measures, according to a senior official.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

“You know, about what he did to survive, get where he is. Maybe he has a blueprint—like the ones inside your Lego kits—but his blueprint is on how to survive St. Nick projects.”

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore

Related Words

• draft
• game plan
• master plan
• model
• prototype
• scheme
• sketch