small talk

noun

: light or casual conversation : chitchat

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 app, founded in Charlotte, is designed to help people make connections while skipping the small talk. Alexis Clinton, Axios, 14 Feb. 2025 Cancer, Mercury is expanding your worldview, and suddenly, small talk bores you. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025 No time, really, for small talk when so many calls were coming in, so many orders for sesame chicken (and 20 other chicken dishes), or wonton soup, scallion pancakes, egg foo young, chow mein. Barbara Ellis, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2025 The request seems to have substituted for small talk, as though the artist were skipping incidental matters to inquire about what was really on his mind. Richard Meyer, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20talk. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

small talk

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