Fine print is a term that comes from the law of contracts. It refers to language in the text of the contract that is in a very small print font and difficult to locate or read. It implies that text and meaning of the "fine print" is something that author of the contract is trying to hide and by putting it in fine print, the reader might skip over it and not read it. Many times the fine print of a warranty or guarantee, which is actually a type of contract, is placed there to strongly benefit only one of the parties of a contract and/or not beneficial or maybe detrimental to the other party. Many feel that fine print is unethical and borderline illegal. It is a practice that is to be generally discouraged.

Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't. Pete Seeger

A reference to imaginary small type in a policy contract supposedly containing exclusions, reductions, exemptions, and limitations of coverage. Most state laws include specifications for the minimum type size that can be used in a policy, and they also provide that exclusions cannot be printed in type smaller than that used to print the benefits.

Non-standard terms included in a contract, often in a small font.