small print

American  

noun

1. fine print.

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small print British  

noun

1. matter in a contract, etc, printed in small type, esp when considered to be a trap for the unwary

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small print Idioms  

1. Also, fine print. The details in a contract or other document, often indicating restrictions or other disadvantages. For example, Be sure you read the small print before you sign your name to it, or They had the warranty terms in fine print, so you'd overlook the fact that it was only good for a month. This idiom alludes to the fact that such material is often printed in smaller type than the rest of the document. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

Record time, though, isn’t defined and small print on the official website External link warns “additional small fees” may apply depending on where the applicant is from.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

That’s quite a roster of side effects, like the small print at the end of drug company TV commercials.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

While the small print is poured over, former Scotland international James McFadden is content Celtic are in perfectly good hands with O'Neill.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2025

They may be advised in small print that a reinsurer is taking over the administration of their policies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

Jonas had blinked, looked around, and then tested his eyesight, squinting at the small print on the identification badge attached to his tunic.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry