Small Talk - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT small talk /ˌsmɔl ˈtɔk/ /smɔl tɔk/ IPA guide

Other forms: small talks

Small talk is unimportant social conversation, like the small talk you make with the guy next to you on the bus — about the weather and the traffic.

You might call small talk "chitchat." It's the polite back-and-forth that occurs between people who don't know each other well and don't want to discuss anything controversial or personal. You might make small talk about the weather while you wait in line for a movie, or find yourself engaged in small talk with other dog owners at the dog park. Small talk first appeared as a term in the mid-eighteenth century, but it probably dates back to cavemen as a concept.

Definitions of small talk

noun light informal conversation for social occasions synonyms: causerie, chin wag, chin wagging, chin-wag, chin-wagging, chit chat, chit-chat, chitchat, gab, gabfest, gossip, tittle-tattle see moresee less type of: chat, confab, confabulation, schmoose, schmooze an informal conversation

Pronunciation US /ˌsmɔl ˈtɔk/ UK /smɔl tɔk/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘small talk'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family 2 million people are mastering new words. Master a word

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