Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms
Trivia Time
Which card player is acting most nonchalantly?

nonchalantly

American  
[non-shuh-lahnt-lee] / ˌnɒn ʃəˈlɑnt li /

adverb

  1. in an unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited manner; casually.

    The bear was nonchalantly ambling along in the grass, heading straight towards me.


Etymology

Origin of nonchalantly

nonchalant + -ly

Explanation

Use the adverb nonchalantly to describe an action done in a really relaxed, casual, unconcerned way. From now on if someone asks you to define the word nonchalantly, you can do it...nonchalantly. It’s no big deal! You may nonchalantly hit a 3-point shot during a basketball game — you've done it a million times before so you're relaxed and confident. Nonchalantly can also describe something that just seems relaxed. Even if you’re truly stressed out about an upcoming test, you can still shrug nonchalantly about it to make people think you’re unconcerned.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing nonchalantly

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.

See Examples For:

James showed flashes of quality and nonchalantly lobbed goalkeeper Fafailia Petaloti from 30 yards in the first half, but her effort was ruled out for offside.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

But Haaland showed no signs of a lack of confidence when he nonchalantly lifted the ball over Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir from Jeremy Doku's fine through ball.

From Barron's ● Jan. 28, 2026

That meant the ball was live, and Charbonnet happened to nonchalantly pick up the ball in the end zone after the whistle was blown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

If some consumers are reacting more nonchalantly to Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros.

From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2025

Then he walked nonchalantly into the sukkah, crossing to where Håkon curled, terrified, and sniffed the dragon’s snout.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training