casual

[kazh-oo-uhl]

adjective

1. happening by chance; fortuitous.

   a casual meeting.

   Synonyms: incidental, unexpected
   Antonyms: planned

2. without definite or serious intention; careless or offhand; passing.

   a casual remark.

3. appropriate for wear or use on informal occasions; not dressy.

   casual clothes; casual wear.

4. seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; relaxed; nonchalant.

   a casual, unconcerned air.

5. without emotional intimacy or commitment.

   casual sex.

6. irregular; occasional.

   a casual visitor.

   Synonyms: unpredictable, unconcerned, indifferent, apathetic, unceremonious, informal
   Antonyms: serious, formal, concerned

7. accidental.

   a casual mishap.

8. noting or relating to activities that do not require much skill or time commitment.

   casual gamers.

9. Obsolete.,  uncertain.

noun

1. a worker employed only irregularly.

2. a soldier temporarily at a station or other place of duty, and usually en route to another station.

3. Usually casuals an article of clothing for casual wear.

4. a person who does something only occasionally.

   Most of our customers are casuals.

5. Usually Disparaging.,  a person who plays video games that do not require much skill or time commitment.

casual

/ ˈkæʒjʊəl /

adjective

1. happening by accident or chance

   a casual meeting

2. offhand; not premeditated

   a casual remark

3. shallow or superficial

   a casual affair

4. being or seeming unconcerned or apathetic

   he assumed a casual attitude

5. (esp of dress) for informal wear

   a casual coat

6. occasional or irregular

   casual visits

   a casual labourer

7. biology another term for adventive

noun

1. (usually plural) an informal article of clothing or footwear

2. an occasional worker

3. biology another term for an adventive

4. (usually plural) a young man dressed in expensive casual clothes who goes to football matches in order to start fights

Other Word Forms

• casually adverb
• casualness noun
• overcasual adjective
• overcasualness noun
• ultracasual adjective
• ultracasualness noun
• uncasual adjective
• uncasualness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of casual¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin cāsuālis, equivalent to cāsus case ¹ + -ālis -al ¹; replacing Middle English casuel, from Middle French, from Latin as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of casual¹

C14: from Late Latin cāsuālis happening by chance, from Latin cāsus event, from cadere to fall; see _case ¹

Synonym Study

See accidental.

Example Sentences

His "casual" contract with the national body requires him to commit to only certain series and tournaments.

Read more on Barron's

As for what he hopes fans and casual readers will take from “Only God Can Judge Me,” Pearlman waxes philosophical.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We learn, for example, that there’s far more to the penicillin story than the casual history of Alexander Fleming’s eureka moment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The OG home chef made French cuisine feel possible for Americans; Ryle’s generation is taking it one step further, making it feel lighthearted and casual.

Read more on Salon

Malibu Creek State Park is a popular option with both isolated campgrounds for serious stargazers and upper parking lot for more casual viewing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cool 
• cursory 
• easygoing 
• folksy 
• homey 
• informal 
• laid-back 
• mellow 
• offhand