Phrase guide

water cooler talk

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The informal or casual conversations that colleagues have with each other at the office, often while taking a break to get a drink of water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

water cooler + talk; traditionally workers have convened at water coolers where natural workplace socializing, gossip, or updates about pop culture or personal lives take place.