fine print

noun

: something thoroughly and often deliberately obscure

especially : a part of an agreement or document spelling out restrictions and limitations often in small type or obscure language

Examples of fine print in a Sentence

Read the fine print before you sign the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

The fine print: The city will notify car owners after they are cited for violations like parking in a residential area without a permit, parking in a no-parking zone or abandoning their vehicle. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025

Keep in mind this program sometimes costs extra, so read the fine print carefully. —Jaylyn Pruitt, Health, 21 Feb. 2025

Wool is not easily washable, so read the fine print for your specific topper. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025

The setup results from the fine print of farmland preservation, which reporting intern Alexandra Byrne finds hasn’t always kept up with next-generation growers’ needs or budgets, leaving many acres underutilized. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fine print

• fingerprint
• overprint
• peppermint
• blueprint
• footprint
• imprint
• misprint
• newsprint
• nonprint
• preprint
• reprint
• clint

Legal Definition

fine print

noun

: a part of an agreement or document spelling out restrictions or limitations often in small type or obscure language