spare change

noun

: a small amount of money that someone does not need
The beggar asked us if we had any spare change.

Examples of spare change 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.
Not long ago in the historic center of Guatemala City, the sidewalks were filled with people begging for spare change or a meal for their children, many of them draped in the Venezuelan flag. César Rodríguez, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025 Some donors dig around in their purses or open up their wallets to look for spare change to drop into the kettles. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 And, while it’s been rumored nearly every year, Apple didn’t uses its spare change to buy a major studio to fuel its streaming ambitions yet. Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024 Capitol, however, was morally opposed to leaving any spare change rattling in the kids’ pockets—and the kids agreed. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024 In high school, Combs was swindling his classmates out of their spare change, in addition to creating other hustles for himself. Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024 Small sets of keys or spare change do not need to go in the bin. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 12 Nov. 2024 If for no other reason than his ability to use the spare change in his pants pockets to meet the Celtics’ ever-expanding payroll, Bezos would have been well-received by Celtics fans. Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024 Use a tortoiseshell tray on your vanity to hold jewelry or keepsakes, or place a tray on your console table as an elegant catchall for keys, wallets, and spare change. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2024

Dictionary Entries Near spare change

Cite this Entry

“Spare change.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spare%20change. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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