What does fingerprint mean?
A fingerprint is a unique pattern of ridges and valleys found on an individual's fingertips, used for identification purposes. Fingerprints are formed by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors during fetal development, making each person's fingerprints unique. This uniqueness makes fingerprints a valuable tool in forensic science and biometric identification. Fingerprint analysis is widely used in law enforcement to identify suspects and solve crimes. The term fingerprint can also be used figuratively to describe a unique characteristic or identifier. Overall, fingerprints provide a secure and reliable method of identification.
nounA unique pattern of ridges and valleys found on an individual's fingertips, used for identification purposes. Fingerprints are formed by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors during fetal development.
- A unique biometric identifier
- A method of identification or forensic analysis
"The detective carefully collected the fingerprint evidence from the crime scene to compare with the suspect's prints."
"The police used fingerprint analysis to identify the suspect."
"The new smartphone uses fingerprint recognition for secure login."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple individuals' fingerprints or multiple prints from the same individual.
"The police database contains millions of fingerprints from known criminals."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fingerprint
The term fingerprint originated from the combination of finger and print. The word finger comes from Old English 'fingor', which is derived from Proto-Germanic '*fingraz' and Proto-Indo-European '*penk-'. The word print comes from Old French 'preinte', which is derived from Latin 'impressio'. The term fingerprint has been in use since the late 19th century, when fingerprint analysis began to be used in forensic science.
Usage notes
Fingerprint is often used in forensic science and biometric identification. The term can also be used figuratively to describe a unique characteristic or identifier.