Footed describes something that has feet or a base resembling feet. A footed bowl sits on small legs that lift it off the table, while a flat-bottomed bowl rests directly on the surface. Many fancy dishes, vases, and goblets have these decorative supports.

The word also appears in combinations that describe what kind of feet something has. A four-footed animal walks on four legs, like dogs, cats, and horses. Fleet-footed means quick and nimble, like a soccer player who moves faster than anyone else on the field. Sure-footed describes someone or something that doesn't stumble or slip easily: mountain goats are famously sure-footed on steep cliffs, and a sure-footed hiker confidently navigates rocky trails.

When you say someone is flat-footed, you might mean they were caught unprepared or by surprise, like being caught flat-footed by a pop quiz.