nonchalant
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nonchalance noun
- nonchalantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of nonchalant
First recorded in 1725–35; from French nonchalant, present participle of obsolete nonchaloir “to lack warmth (of heart), be indifferent,” equivalent to non- prefix meaning “not” + chaloir, from Latin calēre “to be warm”; non-, -ant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dimon, often more willing than most to focus on the dour side, said he was concerned about how investors appeared nonchalant about risks in credit, although he acknowledged consumer defaults looked normal so far.
However, with the nonchalant dance-funk of “Freedom! ’90” — a pedestal-detonating manifesto on which he announces “I don’t belong to you/And you don’t belong to me” — Michael takes pleasure in ripping up his playbook.
From Salon
L.A.’s nonchalant highhandedness can gall today as it did 101 years ago when it precipitated what secessionists hailed as the “day of deliverance” from the “imperial county.”
From Los Angeles Times
At his most nonchalant, he’s doing an Oliver impression.
From Los Angeles Times
I wasn’t sure what scared me more, the thought of the tourists being attacked, or the way they were all so nonchalant in the face of danger creeping right up to them.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
