"Chopped change" refers to small denominations of coins that accumulate in a pocket or purse over time. There are several synonyms for this term, including "loose change," "spare change," or "pocket change." Another term that is commonly used is "shrapnel," which refers to the small bits and pieces of coins that seem to scatter everywhere when emptied out of a pocket. Other synonyms for "chopped change" include "petty cash," "trinket money," and "small change." Regardless of what they are called, these small amounts of coins can come in handy when you need to make a quick purchase, or simply want to avoid carrying around larger denominations of bills.