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.
Having boring small talk with each other for the rest of our lives? Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Their small talk is perfectly natural, philosophical and hilarious. Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 And the show captures the kind of bull — and bullying — that passes for small talk in Hollywood. Nina Metz, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 One challenge neurodivergent people may have is conforming to social cues, which can be harmful in interviews or promotion-selection processes where things like handshakes, eye contact and small talk can heavily influence employment decisions. Julie Kratz, Forbes, 10 Mar. 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 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

small talk

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