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.
Even a small change in mortgage rates can affect a buyer’s purchasing power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 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
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
This creates a small change in capacitance, just enough for the device to detect a touch.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026
Suddenly, with this small change in my workout regimen, I was a better balanced athlete.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
