paper trail

noun

1. a written or printed record, as of transactions or judicial opinions, especially when used to incriminate someone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper trail¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Investors were so worried the South African native would be deported that they even stipulated that he obtain legal status in their contracts, creating a paper trail proving his "illegal" status.

From Salon

She says some employers covered their tracks by creating a paper trail, which appeared to show she earned the National Living Wage.

From BBC

Then there is the question of how the deal would be funded, with the minister said to have been unable to find a paper trail showing where the money was going to come from.

From BBC

The pro-bono lawyer has since been building a paper trail to try to piece together what happened.

From BBC

He used a paper trail along with Trump’s own people and put together a narrative that the jurors believed: Donald Trump is guilty.

From Salon

Related Words

• argument
• clue
• confirmation
• criterion
• data
• demonstration
• information
• picture
• reason
• testament
• testimony
• validation
• verification