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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
These gifts are reported to the IRS, leaving behind a paper trail that can be tracked by organizations like Giving USA.
—
Celia Ford, Vox, 10 July 2024
Passengers call the livery base by phone, meaning there is no app username or digital paper trail as with Uber or Lyft.
—
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2024
But there was no way the casting team could have known since there was no paper trail.
—
Emily Longeretta, Variety, 14 June 2024
The state does not investigate the sources of pesticides in cannabis goods, but instead relies on a system of paper trails — seed-to-sale inventories and lab testing certificates — to protect the public.
—
Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paper trail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1935, in the meaning defined above
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 18 Aug. 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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