square foot

American

[skwair foot] / ˈskwɛər ˈfʊt /

noun

plural

square feet

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

Etymology

Origin of square foot

First recorded in 1670–80

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.

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 proposal is for £4 per square foot of the property, plus service charges.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Now Pop Mart is opening a 7,000 square foot flagship store in Manhattan’s Times Square, with even more stories planned in malls across America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

At the end of fifty-six days the pens would have covered every square foot of the meadow.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

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