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

Career officials who witness corruption could also create a paper trail so that the people responsible may one day be held accountable. — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Reconstructing the paper trail for that grant three years later, across board approvals, valuation reports, exercise windows and tax treatment in multiple jurisdictions, can take days per person. — Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

By eliminating a paper trail, this particular recruitment chief would be the sole point of contact in the investigation. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

State law, and Hope Florida’s own rules, say grants and other giveaways conducted under the auspices of state government should be subject to selection criteria and paper trails. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paper trail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

paper trail

noun

: documents (as financial records or published materials) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned