footnote

American  

[foot-noht] / ˈfʊtˌnoʊt /

noun

1. an explanatory or documenting note or comment at the bottom of a page, referring to a specific part of the text on the page.

2. a minor or tangential comment or event added or subordinated to a main statement or more important event.

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verb (used with object)

footnoted, footnoting

1. to add a footnote or footnotes to (a text, statement, etc.); annotate.

   to footnote a dissertation.

footnote British  

/ ˈfʊtˌnəʊt /

noun

1. a note printed at the bottom of a page, to which attention is drawn by means of a reference mark in the body of the text

2. an additional comment, as to a main statement

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verb

1. (tr) to supply (a page, book, etc) with footnotes

Usage

What’s the difference between a footnote and an endnote? A footnote is a note at the bottom (the “foot”) of a page. An endnote is a note at the end of a text (such as an article, a chapter, or an entire book). The difference between footnotes and endnotes is their location, not their function. Both consist of information added to a text in another spot, such as an explanation or a citation of a source. They are both usually indicated with some kind of mark, often an asterisk* or a number¹. The same mark appears in another part of the text along with the corresponding note, either at the bottom of the page (making it a footnote) or at the end of the text (making it an endnote). Of course, if an article is only a single page, the note at the end could be called a footnote or an endnote. Here’s an example of footnote and endnote used correctly in the same sentence. Example: I use footnotes for tangential information so that readers can access it without turning the page, but I use endnotes for citations so they don’t clutter up the page. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between footnote and endnote.

Etymology

Origin of footnote

First recorded in 1835–45; foot + note

Compare meaning

How does footnote compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• footnote vs. endnote

Explanation

A footnote is a short bit of extra information that's printed at the bottom of a book's page. Some footnotes cite the authors and titles of the sources the author consulted while researching and writing. The presence of footnotes usually means you're reading an academic or scholarly work of nonfiction. Your history paper might include footnotes on each page, noting the books, journals, and websites you used for your research. Some contemporary novels have footnotes as well, a complex and playful way for the author to insert extra notes and details. The foot of a page is the bottom, which explains the word footnote.

Example Sentences

“Eustatius was not a footnote in the American story,” Ms. Francis said in a poignant address.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

But more intriguing than the frosty back and forth is the footnote Justice Alito dropped in his opinion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

In a footnote, the plaintiff clarified that his brother was also present at the time of the incident and that neither of them engaged in inappropriate conduct toward the unidentified woman.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Arsenal will hope this blip is only a footnote in what can still be a successful season - but the Gunners are going to have get back to their best, and quickly.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Before leaving isorhythm, there is a footnote to be added about the way it is organised as strings of note values.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• explanation
• reference