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
Certain gold transactions will leave a paper trail with the IRS, whether investors realize it or not.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Brown said the emails released in the Epstein files showed a paper trail of visas, payments and transport records which demonstrate that women and girls were trafficked across the world.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
But recently, these insured pieces started going missing and worse, there's no paper trail of Harley being directed to make these risky investments.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
Cash mattered, Youngblood had explained — paper trails could get people hurt.
—Matthew Bremner, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paper trail
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Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Brown said the emails released in the Epstein files showed a paper trail of visas, payments and transport records which demonstrate that women and girls were trafficked across the world.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
But recently, these insured pieces started going missing and worse, there's no paper trail of Harley being directed to make these risky investments.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
Cash mattered, Youngblood had explained — paper trails could get people hurt.
—Matthew Bremner, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 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 25 Feb. 2026.
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