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
There are no driver's licenses, no credit cards and other paper trail with which to start looking.
—
Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
One reason for the email is to create the (electronic) paper trail, in case your hiring process gets handed off to someone else.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
The articles triggered extensive paper trails between the ministry of justice, intelligence bodies, border and customs agencies, the federal police, and local authorities, but were often disconnected from one another, or took a long time to be referred to the various sub-offices for action.
—Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Expedia played a shell game with your money, wasted your time with useless chatbots and ignored paper trails.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paper trail
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Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
One reason for the email is to create the (electronic) paper trail, in case your hiring process gets handed off to someone else.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
The articles triggered extensive paper trails between the ministry of justice, intelligence bodies, border and customs agencies, the federal police, and local authorities, but were often disconnected from one another, or took a long time to be referred to the various sub-offices for action.
—Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Expedia played a shell game with your money, wasted your time with useless chatbots and ignored paper trails.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paper trail
Cite this Entry
“Paper trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20trail. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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