paper trail

noun

: documents (such as financial records) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned

Examples of paper trail in a Sentence

They covered up the fraud and were careful not to leave a paper trail.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More importantly, developers will also inevitably leave a paper trail of credentials, application programming interface tokens and passkeys embedded in their code, which can remain exposed for years, even after deletion. Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Advertisement The paper trail of Upton’s incarceration describes her as distraught and combative on arrival at the Robert The Cois M. Byrd Detention Center, also referred to as the Southwest Detention Center, in Murrieta. Christopher Damien, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 Both systems provide a paper trail for all ballots cast. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2024 The alleged gunman arrested at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, has a lengthy paper trail of pro-Ukraine advocacy, according to several news reports Monday. Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paper trail 

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper trail was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near paper trail

Cite this Entry

“Paper trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20trail. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

paper trail

noun
: documents (as financial records or published materials) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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