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.
For years, his controversies were tolerated—first as discreet murmurs behind gloved hands, then as uneasy conversations in corridors, and eventually as an inescapable topic of diplomatic small talk. Rob Shuter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025 Parents can also model bravery by accepting their own holiday challenges, whether carving the turkey under watchful eyes or initiating small talk. Maria Williams, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025 Bob Broder was allergic to small talk. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025 Following a few beats of lighthearted small talk, Clarkson told the couple, who were French but visiting from their home in London, not to concern themselves with the heartache of the music about to follow. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20talk. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

small talk

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