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footwear

American  
[foot-wair] / ˈfʊtˌwɛər /

noun

  1. articles to be worn on the feet, 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.

Allbirds pioneered the use of sustainable materials such as merino wool and eucalyptus tree fiber in footwear and other athletic gear.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

A forensic intelligence officer at Cheshire Police explained that every person's footwear tread pattern is different, which helped lead them to the suspects.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Lululemon designs and sells specialized athletic clothing, footwear, and accessories.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 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

“I s’pose Dylan ain’t too busy to take you,” he said, pointing his cleaver at a kid about my age who was arranging fish in a freezer case, “but you’ll be wantin’ proper footwear.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

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.