imprint

1 of 2

verb

im·​print im-ˈprint  ˈim-ˌprint 

imprinted; imprinting; imprints

transitive verb

1

: to mark by or as if by pressure : impress

2

a

: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)

b

: to subject to or induce by imprinting

an imprinted preference

intransitive verb

: to undergo imprinting

imprinter

im-ˈprin-tər 

ˈim-ˌprin-

noun

imprint

2 of 2

noun

im·​print ˈim-ˌprint 

: something imprinted or printed: such as

a

: a mark or depression made by pressure

the fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot

b

: an identifying name (as of a publisher) placed conspicuously on a product

also : the name under which a publisher issues books

c

: an indelible distinguishing effect or influence

Synonyms

Verb

• brand
• engrave
• etch
• impress
• infix
• ingrain
• engrain

Noun

• trace
• track
• trail

Examples of imprint in a Sentence

Verb

wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the company logo

a picture imprinted in my memory

Noun

We saw an imprint of a bike tire on the dirt trail.

a fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Days after Kanye West’s Yeezy site started selling only one product — a white T-shirt imprinted with a black swastika — the e-tailer’s site had been deactivated Thursday. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 13 Feb. 2025

In addition to turning formerly C-list Marvel characters like Drax the Destroyer into global icons, Gunn is one of the few filmmakers who were able to imprint his own distinct style and tastes into this massive franchise that can too often feel (especially lately) a bit impersonal. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 30 Dec. 2024

Noun

Dawes will oversee the label group’s PR department and lead media strategy across the imprints of Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., and Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025

Reprinted by arrangement with Random House, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. —Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English emprenten, from Anglo-French emprient, 3rd singular of enpreindre to impress (from Latin imprimere) & empreinter, from emprent, past participle of enpreindre

Noun

Middle English enpreent, from Anglo-French emprente, from feminine of emprent, past participle of enpreindre

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing imprint

• put one's imprint on

Kids Definition

imprint

1 of 2 verb

im·​print im-ˈprint 

ˈim-ˌ

1

: to mark by or as if by pressure : stamp

2

: to fix firmly (as on the memory)

3

: to go through the process of imprinting

imprint

2 of 2 noun

im·​print ˈim-ˌprint 

1

: something imprinted or printed : impression

the imprint of a hippo's foot

2

: a publisher's name on the title page of a book

Medical Definition

imprint

transitive verb

im·​print im-ˈprint  ˈim-ˌ 

1

: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)

2

: to subject to or induce by imprinting

an imprinted preference

a gene imprinted to be inactive when inherited from the mother

intransitive verb

: to undergo imprinting

imprinter

-ər 

noun