paper trail

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper trail¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

"We needed to create a paper trail so he could find his way back to us," Johanne says.

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There will be a paper trail, either email or snail mail.

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That way, if the item “ends up being stolen and the cops show up at your door, you have a paper trail showing you did your due diligence and are not liable,” Ross said.

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Away from the paper trail, has the political rhetoric changed over recent years?

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He will seek and then pour over the paper trail, talk to Angela Rayner and attempt to establish a definitive timeline of what she did and when and who she spoke to and why.

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Related Words

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