small change
Americannoun
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coins of small denomination.
-
someone or something insignificant or trifling.
Those people are small change.
noun
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coins, esp those of low value
-
a person or thing that is not outstanding or important
Etymology
Origin of small change
First recorded in 1810–20
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That seemingly small change could matter because the inductive effect is commonly used to explain molecular structure and chemical reactions.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
That’s small change compared with most major California water projects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
That’s not small change for JPMorgan, which is the largest U.S. bank, with a market capitalization of $780.7 billion.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026
“And when prices assume almost flawless execution and very cheap money ahead, even a small change in the story hits valuations hard.”
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2025
Always after those searches, the family would miss silverware, cigarettes, small change, cuff links, and earrings left lying about.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
