fine print

American  

[fahyn] / faɪn /

noun

1. printed matter in small-sized type.

2. the detailed wording of a contract, lease, insurance policy, or the like, often set in type smaller than the main body of the document and including general restrictions or qualifications that could be considered disadvantageous.

   Make sure you read the fine print before signing.

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fine print British  

noun

1. Also called: small print. matter set in small type, as in a contract, esp considered as containing unfavourable conditions that the signer might overlook

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Other Word Forms

• fine-print
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of fine print

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fine print

As always, do your own due diligence and read all the fine print.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

Some brands use terms such as “0% alcohol” interchangeably with “nonalcoholic,” however, leaving the details to the fine print.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

"We need and are obliged to know what is written in the fine print," opposition lawmaker Luis Emilio Rondon said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

The fine print in the bill states that the company must have a plan that prevents top executives from receiving “short-term” bonuses after a fire that results in 500 or more structures damaged.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

It is always the rule, the fine print, carried out by fine-print men.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck