small change

noun

1
: coins of low denomination
2

Examples of small change in a Sentence

a pocket full of small change The fine is a lot of money to some people, but to him it's small change. My problems are small change compared to yours. He wasn't a major criminal. He was strictly small change.
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.
Obama said progress is made by making small changes over time and repeatedly urged the crowd to get out and vote. John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 23 Oct. 2024 During those first 380,000 years, small changes in the density of the electron-proton-light plasma that filled space spread as sound waves, just as sound propagates through the air in a room. Marc Kamionkowski, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 Yes, the small changes made the Series 10 more comfortable and nicer to wear, but new design is a bit of a stretch. Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 29 Oct. 2024 In these environments, small changes—like shifts in leadership behavior—can lead to significant, unexpected outcomes over time. Sandro Da Silva, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for small change 

Word History

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of small change was in 1679

Dictionary Entries Near small change

Cite this Entry

“Small change.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20change. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!