fine print

noun

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of fine print

: 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

See fine print defined for English-language learners

Examples of fine print in a Sentence

Read the fine print before you sign the contract.

Recent Examples of fine print from the Web

Companies lean on the terms of service that customers sign before using their platforms, but there’s no way for a customer to know from that fine print how their data actually will be used, Dore said.

— ally marotti, chicagotribune.com, "Facebook users have been giving away their data for a decade. Is it too late to get our privacy back?," 23 Mar. 2018
Given the fine print of Proposition 2, there's only one shot at deciding what to do with the $3.5 billion in extra tax revenues.

— john myers, latimes.com, "Stashing cash for a rainy day isn't as easy as it sounds for California government," 18 Mar. 2018
And over the past five years, as part of its rapid modernization, the Russian Navy has expanded its strategic capabilities, including one that's essentially a thumbing of the nose at the INF's fine print.

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "Putin boasts new strategic weapons will make US missile defense “useless”," 1 Mar. 2018
During this backward spin, proofread all correspondences and triple-check the fine print.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What March's Capricorn Horoscope Means for You," 28 Feb. 2018
Numbers from the fine print of the Trump budget show deficits over $900 billion in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

— jamie dupree, AJC.com, "Trump sends $4.4 trillion budget to Congress featuring high yearly deficits," 12 Feb. 2018
Also unlike the previous ban, each country has its own set of restrictions, with fine print including everything from extra screening to student exchanges.

— katherine lagrave, Condé Nast Traveler, "How Trump's Travel Ban Will Affect Visitors to the U.S.," 5 Dec. 2017
In actuality, says the lawsuit, the fine print of the contract offered no such guarantees.

— joe palazzolo, WSJ, "Ex-Playmate Who Alleges Affair With Trump Sues to End Pact That Silenced Her," 20 Mar. 2018
According to the Times, Kogan insisted both in the fine print of the survey and to Facebook that his interest in the data was purely academic.

— alex shephard, The New Republic, "Cambridge Analytica Is Shady. But Facebook is Shadier.," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fine print.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of fine print

1891

FINE PRINT Defined for English Language Learners

fine print

noun

Definition of fine print for English Language Learners

: the part of an agreement or document that contains important details and that is sometimes written in small letters

Law Dictionary

fine print

noun

legal Definition of fine print

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fine print? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

fine print

Definition of fine print

Examples of fine print in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fine print from the Web

First Known Use of fine print

FINE PRINT Defined for English Language Learners

fine print

Definition of fine print for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

fine print

legal Definition of fine print

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

headlong

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix'?

'Altho' vs. 'Although'

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Spell It

Bee Cubed

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

fine print

Definition of fine print

Examples of fine print in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fine print from the Web

First Known Use of fine print

FINE PRINT Defined for English Language Learners

fine print

Definition of fine print for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

fine print

legal Definition of fine print

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes