chitchat

American  

[chit-chat] / ˈtʃɪtˌtʃæt /

noun

1. light conversation; casual talk; gossip.

---

verb (used without object)

chitchatted, chitchatting

1. to indulge in chitchat; gossip.

chitchat British  

/ ˈtʃɪtˌtʃæt /

noun

1. talk of a gossipy nature

---

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

“She can continue to chitchat with Kermit. And that was really charming for her and certainly charming for us. And how can you not have fun on a set like that?”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

The next two hours were filled with chitchat between sets: Nicole’s end-of-school-year frenzy, Rich’s musician thoughts about those sweet drum riffs and where we should all go to grab a bite after.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

The school system’s chief financial officer, for example, doesn’t want to chitchat and won’t share data until he knows what you’ll do with it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025

And since coverage in parks is rare—a tree sometimes—all the skaters usually huddle in the same shady place, making chitchat inevitable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 21, 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