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

The evidence for scanning healthy people is thin, and the fine print starts with your credit card. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

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

These devices collect intimate physiological data tied to an account, and vendor practices vary — Fizimed makes explicit non-sharing claims; other companies’ handling is worth reading the fine print on before pairing. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

The fine print decides the real value The advertised number rarely tells the full story. — Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 15 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