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footnote

 - 4 dictionary results

foot⋅note

[foot-noht] noun, verb, -not⋅ed, -not⋅ing.
–noun
1. an explanatory or documenting note or comment at the bottom of a page, referring to a specific part of the text on the page.
2. a minor or tangential comment or event added or subordinated to a main statement or more important event.
–verb (used with object)
3. to add a footnote or footnotes to (a text, statement, etc.); annotate: to footnote a dissertation.

Origin:
1835–45; foot + note
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To footnote
foot·note   (fŏŏt'nōt')   
n.  
  1. A note placed at the bottom of a page of a book or manuscript that comments on or cites a reference for a designated part of the text.

  2. Something related to but of lesser importance than a larger work or occurrence: a political scandal that was but a footnote to modern history.

tr.v.   foot·not·ed, foot·not·ing, foot·notes
To furnish with or comment on in footnotes.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Financial Dictionary

Footnote

Additional information provided in a company's financial statements. Footnotes report the details and additional information that are left out of the main reporting documents, such as the balance sheet and income statement. This is done mainly for the sake of clarity because footnotes can be quite long, and if they were included, they would cloud the data reported in the financial statements.

Investopedia Commentary

It is very important for investors to read the footnotes included in a company's periodic reports. Footnotes contain important information on such things as the accounting methodologies used for recording and reporting transactions, pension plan details and stock option compensation information - all of which can have material effects on the bottom-line return that a shareholder can expect from an investment in a company.

Related Links

How To Read Footnotes - Part 1
How To Read Footnotes - Part 2: Evaluating Accounting Risk
How To Read Footnotes - Part 3: Evaluating The Board Of Directors

See also: 10-K, Annual Report, Balance Sheet, Bottom Line, Fundamental Analysis, Income Statement

Also spelled: footnotes, foot notes, foot note

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Financial Dictionary

footnote

A detailed explanation of an item in a financial statement. Footnotes are nearly always located at the end of a statement. For example, a company is likely to attach footnotes to its annual report to expand on the depreciation and inventory valuation methods used by its accountants. Many financial analysts consider footnotes the most important information in an annual report. Also called note.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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