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Synonyms

paper trail

American  

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of paper trail

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For one, he doesn’t have the provocative paper trail that Dhillon has.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Feb. 2, 2026

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

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

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

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025

It sounded like Jesse didn’t have much of a paper trail to bring to the admissions committee, however.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.