fine print

noun

: something thoroughly and often deliberately obscure

especially : a part of an agreement or document spelling out restrictions and limitations often in small type or obscure language

Examples of fine print in a Sentence

Read the fine print before you sign the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

And some of the details buried in the fine print may surprise you. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

That kind of surprise repair is exactly why a vehicle protection plan has become a serious consideration for drivers keeping older cars on the road, and why the fine print deserves close reading before anyone hands over a credit card. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

There is also a tendency for some to start shouting about equal-time rules without a read of the fine print. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

The upgrades are getting bolder, the products marketed to renters are multiplying and the fine print on what actually protects your security deposit is not keeping pace. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fine print

• fingerprint
• mezzotint
• overprint
• peppermint
• blueprint
• footprint
• imprint
• misprint
• newsprint
• nonprint
• preprint
• reprint

Legal Definition

fine print

noun

: a part of an agreement or document spelling out restrictions or limitations often in small type or obscure language