small change

noun

1
: coins of low denomination
2

Examples of small change in a Sentence

a pocket full of small change The fine is a lot of money to some people, but to him it's small change. My problems are small change compared to yours. He wasn't a major criminal. He was strictly small change.
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.
Even small changes to the interface can affect what’s shared and how. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025 From enacting thoughtful leave policies to fostering understanding through manager training and peer support networks, small changes can make a powerful difference. Our Place, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 Evolution generally entails seeing small changes passed down over generations, leading to new adaptations and new species over thousands or millions of years. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 The physics behind this is complex, but in a nutshell, small changes in the orbit of Neptune—the major planet most affected by a star passing by—propagate inward. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for small change

Word History

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of small change was in 1679

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Cite this Entry

“Small change.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20change. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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