small change
Americannoun
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coins of small denomination.
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someone or something insignificant or trifling.
Those people are small change.
noun
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coins, esp those of low value
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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.
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
It’s a small change for now, but one that could one day upend traditional stock trading.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
The findings show that even a small change in how vaccine components are arranged can determine whether a nanovaccine produces a limited immune response or a powerful tumor destroying effect.
From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2026
What seemed a small change for the 1993-94 season made a huge impact.
From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025
But a small change is often all that it takes.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
