carbon footprint

American  

noun

carbon footprints plural

1. the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company, country, etc..

   the carbon footprint of an overseas flight;

   how to measure your carbon footprint.

---

carbon footprint British  

noun

1. a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by a single endeavour or by a company, household, or individual through day-to-day activities over a given period

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• carbon footprints
  plural

Etymology

Origin of carbon footprint

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

The fund holds real estate investment trusts with a lower carbon footprint and are less susceptible to climate risks such as sea-level rise, floods, and storms.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

New York City has committed to halving the construction industry’s carbon footprint by 2033.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

The data centers on which AI -- and cloud technology more broadly -- rely consume vast amounts of electricity, which often has a large carbon footprint.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

"They're kind of the wicked stepmother of flowers... with the biggest carbon footprint, instead, look to try and buy some beautiful British flowers," she said.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

One would hate to see the carbon footprint of these AI trials.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026