small change

American  

noun

1. coins of small denomination.

2. someone or something insignificant or trifling.

   Those people are small change.

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small change British  

noun

1. coins, esp those of low value

2. a person or thing that is not outstanding or important

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Etymology

Origin of small change

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

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

This small change in wind direction could then pull in much colder air from Scandinavia resulting in showers over eastern areas that could turn to sleet or snow in places.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

“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

"It's a small change per hour, but when screen time accumulates to three, five or even six hours a day, as we saw in many adolescents, that adds up," he said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 1, 2025

Sure enough, when Levanthal redid the experiment, one small change was sufficient to tip the vaccination rate up to 28 percent.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell