chitchat

[ chit-chat ]

noun

1. light conversation; casual talk; gossip.

verb (used without object)

, chit·chat·ted, chit·chat·ting.

1. to indulge in chitchat; gossip.

chitchat

/ ˈtʃɪtˌtʃæt /

noun

1. talk of a gossipy nature

verb

1. intr to gossip

Other Words From

• chitchatty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chitchat¹

First recorded in 1700–10; gradational compound based on chat

Example Sentences

Chitchat is kept to a minimum.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2024 cops leaned over the barricades to chat with pro-Trumpers, sharing Instagram handles and chitchat about how nice the weather was.

From Slate

On the Daytime Emmy-winning show, Marshall would deliver silly questions that segued into entertaining chitchat and inside jokes with comics such as Joan Rivers, Rose Marie and Paul Lynde — the longtime, snarky center square on the set.

From Los Angeles Times

If we have small tasks to do we usually just meet up, grab food and run all errands, chitchat.

From Los Angeles Times

The members of the F.B.I.’s Behavioral Analysis Unit love to chitchat about a hostage situation or a violent crime occurring instead of just rushing to the scene, which, in real life, would be a horrible emergency-response tactic, but on this show, it makes for good TV.

From New York Times

Related Words

• gossip
• small talk