chatter

1 of 2

verb

chat·​ter ˈcha-tər How to pronounce chatter (audio)
chattered; chattering; chatters

intransitive verb

1
: to utter rapid short sounds suggestive of language but inarticulate and indistinct
squirrels chattered angrily
2
: to talk idly, incessantly, or fast
3
a
: to click repeatedly or uncontrollably
teeth chattering with cold
b
: to vibrate rapidly in cutting
a chattering tool
c
: to vibrate especially audibly as a consequence of repeated sticking and slipping
chattering brakes

transitive verb

: to utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly
chatterer noun
chattery adjective

chatter

2 of 2

noun

1
: the action or sound of chattering
2
: idle talk : prattle
3
: electronic and especially radio communication between individuals engaged in a common or related form of activity
also : such chatter regarding future hostile activities
4
: a person who participates in online chat
Excite, Inc. … reports that users log a total of 7.5 to 8 million chat minutes on an average day. Half of online chatters are aged 18 to 34, and 15 percent are under age 17.Rebecca Piirto Heath

Examples of chatter in a Sentence

Verb Children chattered in the middle of the playground. My teeth were chattering from the cold. Birds chattered in the trees. Noun heard the chatter of squirrels pleasant chatter over morning coffee
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.
Verb
Talk of the Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game meeting with the Bills, and KC’s attempt to record the first Super Bowl three-peat, has been secondary to chatter about the games being fixed in favor of the Chiefs. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025 This is one of those AI existential risks that everyone is chattering about these days. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
Just a few years ago, as investors dove into beauty at an unprecedented pace, much of the chatter in the industry was focused on the billion-dollar brand — sales wise. Kathryn Hopkins, WWD, 21 Feb. 2025 But what really turned me on to it was seeing social-media chatter from the educational side of things. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chatter

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chatteren, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chatter was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Chatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chatter. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

chatter

verb
chat·​ter
ˈchat-ər
1
: to utter rapid meaningless sounds suggesting speech
squirrels chattered angrily
2
: to talk idly, continually, or rapidly
3
: to click again and again without control
teeth chattering
chatter noun
chatterer
ˈchat-ər-ər
noun
chattery
-ə-rē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on chatter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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