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”; see non-, -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM nonchalant

non·cha·lant·ly, adverb

Words nearby nonchalant

nonce, noncellular, noncellulosic, nonce word, nonchalance, nonchalant, nonchalantly, non-Christian, nonchromaffin paraganglioma, nonchromosomal, nonclassical

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How to use nonchalant in a sentence

Their physical presence speaks to our aesthetic biases and nonchalant insults.
The sound of a shifting power structure|Robin Givhan|January 13, 2021|Washington Post
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 Democrats need to be similarly nonchalant about this one.
Despite Their Loss In Florida’s Special Election, Democrats Shouldn’t Panic Over November|Michael Tomasky|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An extreme close-up of Man Ray snapped in profile (1968) hangs opposite a nonchalant-looking Andy Warhol (1965).
David Bailey’s ‘Stardust’ Shows a Keen Eye for Fine Faces|Chloë Ashby|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Palmer is out of town, and Lovegrove and Matthews appear wonderfully nonchalant.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon
Algernon's words could not be objected to, but the tone in which they were uttered was completely nonchalant.
A Charming Fellow, Volume II (of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope
And, indeed, his countenance brightened at once, and he took a chair opposite to Minnie with all his old nonchalant gaiety.
A Charming Fellow, Volume II (of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope
"It seems they've spotted us," said Arcot in a voice he tried to make nonchalant.
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
To this Bobby returned ostentatious yawns of boredom and nonchalant lollings, for it seemed a small matter to be so fashed about.
Greyfriars Bobby|Eleanor Atkinson

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

nonchalant

OTHER WORDS FOR nonchalant

OPPOSITES FOR nonchalant

Origin of nonchalant

OTHER WORDS FROM nonchalant

Words nearby nonchalant

Words related to nonchalant

How to use nonchalant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nonchalant

Derived forms of nonchalant

Word Origin for nonchalant