___ change

EXACT

Think of the precise kind of money you might receive after a transaction.

The clue "___ change" hints at a type of money exchange, but the blank suggests a word that fits before "change" to form a common phrase. "Exact change" is the answer—it refers to the precise amount of coins or bills needed for a transaction, not a penny more or less. The wordplay relies on the familiar phrase rather than a tricky definition, making it straightforward once you think of everyday cash handling.