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
The paper trail becomes faint after 1865, though Klein confirmed that Sarah’s father died in January 1866 and is buried in Vale Cemetery in Schenectady.
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Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
The only way to answer these questions is through systematic audits and a clear paper trail—this was the launchpad for our study.
—Chara Podimata, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Essentially, your job is to compile a paper trail that proves your chain of heritage going back to your grandparent is intact.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
When customers make transfers that deviate from their normal patterns, the AI can reach out to confirm the source and maintain the paper trail regulators require.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paper trail
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Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
The only way to answer these questions is through systematic audits and a clear paper trail—this was the launchpad for our study.
—Chara Podimata, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Essentially, your job is to compile a paper trail that proves your chain of heritage going back to your grandparent is intact.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
When customers make transfers that deviate from their normal patterns, the AI can reach out to confirm the source and maintain the paper trail regulators require.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
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 1 Dec. 2025.
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