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Synonyms

thumbprint

American  
[thuhm-print] / ˈθʌmˌprɪnt /

noun

  1. a mark or impression of the ventral surface of the last joint of the thumb.


thumbprint British  
/ ˈθʌmˌprɪnt /

noun

  1. an impression of the upper part of the thumb, used esp for identification purposes See fingerprint

"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 thumbprint

First recorded in 1895–1900; thumb + print

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.

See Examples For:

The system's biometric fingerprint process could not accommodate someone like him, as it could not capture his scarred thumbprint or the prints of the other two scarred fingers.

From BBC Apr. 16, 2026

These versions are also much larger: while an O’Ryan’s potato is about the size of a thumbprint, See’s can stretch up to three inches long.

From Salon Mar. 17, 2026

In Hammani’s retelling, he relented after four days, applying his thumbprint to a written confession, which he wasn’t allowed to read.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 29, 2025

If this is your era, put a thumbprint on it.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 10, 2025

As ordered, Shin put his thumbprint on the document.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

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