small change
Americannoun
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coins of small denomination.
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someone or something insignificant or trifling.
Those people are small change.
noun
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coins, esp those of low value
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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’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
It’s a small change for now, but one that could one day upend traditional stock trading.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
George Russell - 7 - Quick, as you'd expect, but ever since that small change to suspension in qualifying, Russell struggled for pace.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
The sea clinked like small change in a pocket.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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.
