square foot

American  

[skwair foot] / ˈskwɛər ˈfʊt /

noun

plural

square feet

1. a unit of area measurement equal to a square measuring one foot on each side; 0.0929 square meters. ft 2 , sq. ft.

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Etymology

Origin of square foot

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

In an industry that monetizes every square foot of space, it’s a costly gamble for regulation that may not come to pass.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s 2016 Snøhetta expansion cost $305 million and added 235,000 square feet — about $1,765 per square foot.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

A massive fire burning inside a Kimberly Clark paper products facility in Ontario collapsed a warehouse roof and forced firefighters to retreat early Tuesday as flames consumed the 1.2-million square foot structure.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

He also pointed to the relative value compared to nearby coastal markets, noting similar waterfront properties elsewhere often come at a significantly higher price per square foot.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

The township was desperately overcrowded; every square foot was occupied either by a ramshackle house or a tin-roofed shack.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela