small change

noun

1. coins of small denomination.
2. someone or something insignificant or trifling:

   Those people are small change.

small change

noun

1. coins, esp those of low value
2. a person or thing that is not outstanding or important

Word History and Origins

Origin of small change¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Such systems are notoriously sensitive to even small changes, which makes them fiendishly difficult to model.

From MIT Technology Review

Fraga notes that any small change in turnout, especially given the closeness of the Ossoff-Perdue vote, could have saved that seat—and the Senate—for the GOP.

From Fortune

Viruses often undergo small changes as they reproduce and move through a population.

From Fortune

You can see on the right that some small changes have been made, in order to encourage users toward the marketer’s preferred action.

From Search Engine Watch

Of course, like today, the national crisis forced small changes.

From Washington Post

We are proud that our film could be a catalyst for even a small change in the ways these boys are treated in China.

From The Daily Beast

It takes audiences inside the human spirit as a very small change makes an enormous difference.

From The Daily Beast

Make one small change toward a healthier lifestyle every week.

From The Daily Beast

He took off his hat, and moved mechanically toward the stand; and there he found a small change that was a great one to him.

From Project Gutenberg

He handed these to the Captain, who hastily looked over them, handed back the tobacco and other things and the small change.

From Project Gutenberg

Beauties and joys he was to keep for pocket-money; small change is sometimes great gain.

From Project Gutenberg

It is true that women went for twenty-four hours without food, but the reason was the lack of small change, not of eatables.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked it out from a handful of small change, folded it in some crumpled paper, and gave it to me.

From Project Gutenberg