Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

foothill

American  
[foot-hil] / ˈfʊtˌhɪl /

noun

  1. a low hill at the base of a mountain or mountain range.


foothill British  
/ ˈfʊtˌhɪl /

noun

  1. (often plural) a lower slope of a mountain or a relatively low hill at the foot of a mountain

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of foothill

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; foot + hill

Vocabulary lists containing foothill

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rainfall totals of half an inch to 1.5 inches are expected in the mountain and foothill regions, and there is a chance of a dusting of snow in areas above 6,000 feet elevation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

In recent years, there has been an uptick in bears wandering into foothill neighborhoods as humans continue to encroach on bear territory.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Within about an hour, the county issued evacuation orders for many of the foothill communities near the fire’s origin, including the eastern side of Altadena.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

The same can be said for the surrounding foothill communities, such as La Cañada Flintridge or Sierra Madre, where a dry, windy day could put them at the same risk for disaster.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

Two hundred yards this side of our home, the road made a turn around a low foothill shutting our house off from view.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls