small talk

noun

Synonyms of small talknext
: 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.
As the third quarter ended, instead of handing out daps and making small talk with her teammates, Jocytė started her warmups. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 26 May 2026 The professionals who excel at small talk have mastered the follow-up question. Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 That’s good news for the families of players, coaches, staffers and media members, but bad news for fans looking to avoid having to make small talk during the holidays. Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026 In a video about an erratic Uber driver, a recognizable dynamic—awkward small talk, impatience to set off—escalates into a life-threatening one. Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026 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 29 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

small talk

noun
: light or informal conversation
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