1
: a stable position or placing of the feet
lost his footing and fell
2
: a surface or its condition with respect to one walking or running on it
Be careful—the footing is slippery there.
especially
: the condition of a racetrack
4
5
: basis
put the business on a firm financial footing
6
: terms of social intercourse
neighbors on a friendly footing
7
: an enlargement at the lower end of a foundation wall, pier, or column to distribute the load
8
: the sum of a column of figures
Cite this Entry
“Footing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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