paper trail

noun

: documents (such as financial records) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned

Examples of paper trail in a Sentence

They covered up the fraud and were careful not to leave a paper trail.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Diaz-Campos claims the message shows management actively tried to avoid a paper trail for questionable adjustments. — Chase Jordan july 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026 That paper trail is your best defense against frivolous damage claims. — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 27 July 2026 Investigators combed through the DNA and paper trail genealogy research to fill gaps in Bradley’s family tree, from newspaper and social media records to genetic analysis. — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Reinsurers price catastrophe risk partly on loss-development patterns, the paper trail of how claims from past disasters paid out over the years that followed. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for paper trail

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper trail was in 1935

Rhymes for paper trail

See All Rhymes for paper trail

Browse Nearby Words

paper towel
paper trail
paper-train
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paper trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20trail. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

paper trail

noun
: documents (as financial records or published materials) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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