chitchat

American  

[chit-chat] / ˈtʃɪtˌtʃæt /

noun

1. light conversation; casual talk; gossip.

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verb (used without object)

chitchatted, chitchatting

1. to indulge in chitchat; gossip.

chitchat British  

/ ˈtʃɪtˌtʃæt /

noun

1. talk of a gossipy nature

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verb

1. (intr) to gossip

Other Word Forms

• chitchatty adjective

Etymology

Origin of chitchat

First recorded in 1700–10; gradational compound based on chat

Example Sentences

Spend enough time around cybersecurity types, and questions like the one above might feel like lighthearted chitchat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“You’re walking down the road. You see a coffee spot, get some coffee. Then you chitchat and then keep walking and do the same thing all over and over again.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

And because that’s not something that everyone’s used to, you kind of pretend as if you’re having a little chitchat while being observed by everyone.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

I knocked and walked into the room, starting with the usual idle chitchat.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

“Is Lexie still doing theatre?” she asked, and for the rest of the meal they made superficial chitchat about the common denominators of their life: children, traffic, the weather.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• gossip
• small talk