small talk

noun

: light or casual conversation : chitchat

Synonyms of small talk

• chat
• talk
• chatter
• table talk

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

Maybe the mood came first and the small talk followed, a symptom mistaken for a cause. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Steak for a crowd is too expensive, and requires a level of last-minute theatrics incompatible with small talk. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 July 2026

The conversation started with small talk between the woman and Gonzalez. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026

Over the course of the film, often during small talk, other students try to mentor Charlie on how to fit in. — John Hopewell, Variety, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for small talk

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk

Kids Definition

small talk

noun

: light or informal conversation