Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

footwear

American  
[foot-wair] / ˈfʊtˌwɛər /

noun

  1. articles to be worn worn on the feet, foot, as shoes, slippers, or boots.

footwear British  
/ ˈfʊtˌwɛə /

noun

  1. anything worn to cover the feet

"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 footwear

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; foot + wear

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.

The 32-year-old clothier regularly navigates chaotic traffic to deliver luxury clothes and footwear to customers across the megacity of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The footwear alone was significant; Adidas was left with more than $1 billion of unsold stock of Yeezy shoes after terminating the deal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Accessories include leather bags inspired by the sport duffel, and minimalist footwear — ranging from flats to slippers to kitten heels — for elegance at every occasion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Because most people have already received their refunds, the analysts believe footwear and apparel retailers will see a spending boost during the first quarter.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

This ritual continued for months, until the shoes formed a huge pile surrounding the santo, and trickles of miniature footwear were spreading out underneath the pews.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.