small circle

American  

noun

1. a circle on a sphere, the plane of which does not pass through the center of the sphere.

---

small circle British  

noun

1. a circular section of a sphere that does not contain the centre of the sphere Compare great circle

---

Etymology

Origin of small circle

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

small circle

Apart from her, only a small circle knows where he will be even two hours ahead.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Other critics, including former Vice President Elias Jaua, have denounced Rodríguez’s economic changes and accused a small circle around the acting president of making decisions without consulting the movement’s traditional base.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

The Justice Department says that Van Dyke “participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation,” leaving him in the small circle of humans who could blow the secret.

From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026

He is fond of reminding reporters that he prefers to keep his intentions to himself and a small circle of insiders to avoid potential adversaries knowing his next moves.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

Only a small circle of CIA personnel had access to the message, but the information it carried had terrifying implications for the entire spy agency.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau