Schmooze

//ʃmuːz// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A casual conversation, especially one held in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.
  2. 2
    an informal conversation wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To talk casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.

    "I wish he could do his job as well as he schmoozes with the boss."

  2. 2
    talk idly or casually and in a friendly way wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
chatchatconfabconfabulationjawboneschmoose

Example

More examples

"Let's just schmooze for a few minutes, then leave."

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish שמועס (shmues), from Hebrew שְׁמוּעוֹת (sh'mu'ót), plural of שְׁמוּעָה (sh'mu'á, “report, piece of news, rumor”). Cognate with German schmusen (“to cuddle”, older “to flirt, flatter, schmooze”).

Related phrases

schmooze-athon

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.