small talk

noun

Synonyms of small talknext
: light or casual conversation : chitchat

Synonyms of small talk

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Examples of small talk in a Sentence

They made small talk while waiting for the meeting to start. at the corporate get-together we made the obligatory small talk with some people from the home office
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fake accounts were not chasing Claude's small talk. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 That small talk can be really important. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 25 June 2026 But when life gets overwhelming and social fatigue sets in, things like small talk, loud restaurants, and late evenings out can just feel like too much. — Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 28 May 2026 The premise was to take conversations about bets that normally take place in group chats or small talk at bars and create a social video series out of it. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for small talk

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of small talk was in 1650

Rhymes for small talk

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Browse Nearby Words

smallsword
small talk
small tiger lily
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Cite this Entry

“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20talk. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

small talk

noun
: light or informal conversation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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