small game

American

noun

wild animals and birds hunted for sport, as rabbits or doves, that are smaller than animals, as deer and bears, classified as big game.

small game British

noun

small animals that are hunted for sport

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of small game

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.

"Just a small game for us next on Wednesday!"

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

RZSS, which runs a wildlife park nearby, used cage-type traps baited with venison and quail, a small game bird, to capture the cats.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2025

Twenty were related to hunting, including more spears but also finely balanced throwing sticks for downing small game or birds.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 31, 2024

Historically, there are examples of women hunting in hunter-gatherer societies, although, according to the anthropological record, it's typically only small game that they bring home while gathering.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2023

It was going to be a small game: only thirteen Hunters, including Bianca di Angelo, and about the same number of campers.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023