nonchalant

[ non-shuh-lahnt, non-shuh-lahnt, -luhnt ]

/ ˌnɒn ʃəˈlɑnt, ˈnɒn ʃəˌlɑnt, -lənt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR nonchalant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual: His nonchalant manner infuriated me.

Words nearby nonchalant

nonce, nonce word, noncellular, noncellulosic, nonchalance, nonchalant, nonchromaffin paraganglioma, nonchromosomal, nonclassical, noncling, noncognitivism

Origin of nonchalant

1725–35; < French nonchalant, present participle of obsolete nonchaloir to lack warmth (of heart), be indifferent, equivalent to non- non- + chaloir < Latin calēre to be warm. See -ant

SYNONYMS FOR nonchalant

cool, calm, collected, composed.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR nonchalant ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR nonchalant

excitable.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR nonchalant ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM nonchalant

non·cha·lant·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nonchalant

These nonchalant brutalities seem at first at odds with the genteel decorum that mostly cloaks late-19th century culture.
The Magazine That Made—and Unmade—Politicians|Anthony Haden-Guest|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On video, Raymond Santana was smug, boastful, and nonchalant by turns, vividly reenacting who did what during the rape.
The Myth of the Central Park Five|Edward Conlon|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I so wanted to seem brave and nonchalant, but my hands began to shake and my heart accelerated.
How I Got Used to Gaza Rockets|Miranda Frum|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The way he talked about it was so nonchalant, and then it was the most awkward first date in the world.
‘Saturday Night Live’ Star Bobby Moynihan Is the ‘Chozen’ One|Kevin Fallon|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Some aide fretted to Tamiroff that this meant big trouble, but the boss was nonchalant.
Rubio’s Immigration Cowardice|Michael Tomasky|April 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thirty feet from the door he slowed up, put on a nonchalant air, and strolling in, looked about for Castile soap.
The Financier|Theodore Dreiser
He sat opposite to me, and lit a cigarette in his old, nonchalant manner.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes|Arthur Conan Doyle
Another reason for Michael's nonchalant happiness was his normality.
Sinister Street, vol. 1|Compton Mackenzie
"We ought to have told our carriage to wait,89 Jim," said the chief engineer, with nonchalant humor.
Frontier Boys in Frisco|Wyn Roosevelt
After that angry outburst, the fountains of his sorrow seemed to dry up and he became more the old, nonchalant Louis whom I knew.
Lords of the North|A. C. Laut

British Dictionary definitions for nonchalant

nonchalant

/ (ˈnɒnʃələnt) /

adjective

casually unconcerned or indifferent; uninvolved

Derived forms of nonchalant

nonchalance, nounnonchalantly, adverb

Word Origin for nonchalant

C18: from French, from nonchaloir to lack warmth, from non- + chaloir, from Latin calēre to be warm

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012