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 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 What to Know Jill Biden told the Post the president-elect made small talk with her after French first lady Brigitte Macron, who sat between them for much of the ceremony, left her seat. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025 Skip the small talk and discuss larger conversational prompts at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts. Alexis Clinton, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025 Skip the small talk: Small talk can be the enemy of impactful networking. Pranav Dalal, Forbes, 8 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near small talk

Cite this Entry

“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20talk. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

small talk

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