paper trail

American  

noun

1. a written or printed record, as of transactions or judicial opinions, especially when used to incriminate someone.

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Etymology

Origin of paper trail

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

In other words, there should be a paper trail if/when you are audited.

From MarketWatch

Christie’s specialist Giada Damen, who spent months retracing its paper trail and showing it to Michelangelo experts, said this foot wound up with a Swiss diplomat whose family held onto it for generations.

From The Wall Street Journal

As your story illustrates, the paper trail should be followed meticulously, particularly if there are notable gaps in the paper trail itself.

From MarketWatch

There is, of course, a rich paper trail, and the author made avid use of the Sanders mayoral archives at the University of Vermont.

From The Wall Street Journal

With no paper trail from a hospital birth, none of the trio will ever be able to trace their mother.

From Barron's

Related Words

• argument
• clue
• confirmation
• criterion
• data
• demonstration
• information
• picture
• reason
• testament
• testimony
• validation
• verification