chitchat

noun

chit·​chat ˈchit-ˌchat How to pronounce chitchat (audio)
Synonyms of chitchat
: small talk, gossip
chitchat intransitive verb

Synonyms of chitchat

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Examples of chitchat in a Sentence

We exchanged some chitchat about the weather. a bit of chitchat over lunch with people we hadn't seen in a while
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their chitchat is strained by the knowledge that the exchange is transactional. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 After a time, the normal chitchat and easiness of the room returned like a wound closing, the girls forgetting her intrusion. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 For decades, late-night TV has introduced trailblazers trying to break, or reinvent, the staid routine of stand-up monologues and celebrity chitchat. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 Google Translate, Apple Translate, or DeepL Translate will all do the job for free, though Google’s product is widely considered the gold standard for cross-language chitchat. — Christopher Null, Wired News, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for chitchat

Word History

Etymology

reduplication of chat

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chitchat was in 1688

Rhymes for chitchat

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Browse Nearby Words

chitarrone
chitchat
chitchatty
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Cite this Entry

“Chitchat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chitchat. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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