casual

[kazh-oo-uh l] /ˈkæʒ u əl/
adjective
1.
happening by chance; fortuitous:
a casual meeting.
2.
without definite or serious intention; careless or offhand; passing:
a casual remark.
3.
seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic; unconcerned:
a casual, nonchalant air.
4.
appropriate for wear or use on informal occasions; not dressy:
casual clothes; casual wear.
5.
irregular; occasional:
a casual visitor.
6.
accidental:
a casual mishap.
7.
Obsolete, uncertain.
noun
8.
a worker employed only irregularly.
9.
a soldier temporarily at a station or other place of duty, and usually en route to another station.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English < Latin cāsuālis, equivalent to cāsu(s) case1 + -ālis -al1; replacing Middle English casuel < Middle French < Latin as above
Related forms
casually, adverb
casualness, noun
overcasual, adjective
overcasually, adverb
overcasualness, noun
ultracasual, adjective
ultracasually, adverb
ultracasualness, noun
uncasual, adjective
uncasually, adverb
uncasualness, noun
Synonyms
1. unexpected, fortuitous, unforeseen. See accidental. 5. random.
Antonyms
1. planned.
Examples from the web for casual
  • The trend to casual styles developed strength as the fall fur shows continued last week.
  • To a casual observer, a cash shortage is not immediately obvious.
  • Even the casual visitor can explore this solitude without getting outfitted for a backpack expedition.
  • At some point, perhaps, these measurements will work their way into a sentence or casual comment.
  • Spooned around the pie, mashed potatoes offer casual comfort, but they can be piped for a more formal effect.
  • Instead of the promised casual reception, your job talk will be parsed ferociously.
  • Any casual conversation shows the state's essential niceness.
  • They've done this hundreds of times and are casual about protection.
  • Before trick-or-treaters head into the night, invite parents and kids over for a casual buffet that's perfect for the season.
  • And although hardcore gamers tend to stick with consoles, the casual gaming industry is booming.
British Dictionary definitions for casual

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
8.
(usually pl) an informal article of clothing or footwear
9.
an occasional worker
10.
(biology) another term for an adventive
11.
(usually pl) a young man dressed in expensive casual clothes who goes to football matches in order to start fights
Derived Forms
casually, adverb
casualness, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Late Latin cāsuālis happening by chance, from Latin cāsus event, from cadere to fall; see case1
Word Origin and History for casual
adj.

late 14c., "subject to or produced by chance," from Middle French casuel (15c.), from Late Latin casualis "by chance," from Latin casus "chance, occasion, opportunity; accident, event" (see case (n.1)).

Of persons, in the sense of "not to be depended on, unmethodical," it is attested from 1883; meaning "showing lack of interest" is from 1916. Of clothes, "informal," from 1939. Related: Casually.

Encyclopedia Article for casual

an essay written in a familiar, often humorous style. The word is usually associated with the style of essay that was cultivated at The New Yorker magazine

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