small-claims court

noun

ˈsmȯl-ˈklāmz- How to pronounce small-claims court (audio)
: a special court intended to simplify and expedite the handling of small claims on debts

Examples of small-claims court in a Sentence

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.
Richardson said the group is eyeing $100-per-day fines up to $2,500, a sum sufficient to bring disputes into small-claims court. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 20 Nov. 2025 But there are a lot of other public court documents, including in local small-claims court. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 1 Nov. 2025 The case was originally brought to a small-claims court in April. — Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024 Canada’s small-claims court has forced Air Canada to honor the policy its customer-services AI chatbot made up when dealing with a grieving passenger. — David Meyer, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for small-claims court

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of small-claims court was in 1915

Rhymes for small-claims court

See All Rhymes for small-claims court

Browse Nearby Words

small circle
small-claims court
smallclothes
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Cite this Entry

“Small-claims court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small-claims%20court. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

small-claims court

noun
: a court intended to simplify the settling of disputes over small debts

Legal Definition

small claims court

noun
: a special court intended to simplify and expedite the resolution of minor disputes involving small claims
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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