paper trail
A "paper trail" is essential for verifying and reconstructing the history of activities, transactions, or events, especially in legal, financial, and administrative contexts.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)A series of documents or records that provide evidence of activities, transactions, or events.
Example
- The auditor followed the paper trail to uncover the financial discrepancies.
C1Legal
(technical)Documentation that serves as proof of actions or decisions, used for verification or accountability.
Example
- The lawyer used the paper trail to build a strong case against the company.
B2Business
(technical)A chronological sequence of documents showing the history of a particular process or transaction.
Example
- Maintaining a thorough paper trail is crucial for auditing purposes.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "paper trail":