Casual
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkæʒuəl/
Alternative forms
- casuall obsolete
Origin
From Middle French casuel, from Late Latin cÄsuÄlis ("happening by chance"), from Latin cÄsus ("event"), from cadere ("to fall").
Full definition of casual
Adjective
casual
- Happening by chance.
- Washington Irvingcasual breaks, in the general system
- They only had casual meetings.
- Coming without regularity; occasional or incidental.
- Nathaniel Hawthornea constant habit, rather than a casual gesture
- The purchase of donuts was just a casual expense.
- Employed irregularly.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 17, This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.
- He was just a casual worker.
- Careless.
- 2007, Nick Holland, The Girl on the Bus (page 117)I removed my jacket and threw it casually over the back of the settee.
- Happening or coming to pass without design.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 8, It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.
- Informal, relaxed.
- Designed for informal or everyday use.
Derived terms
Synonyms
- (happening by chance) accidental, fortuitous, incidental, occasional
- (happening or coming to pass without design) unexpected
- (relaxed; everyday use) informal
Antonyms
- (happening by chance) inevitable, necessary
- (happening or coming to pass without design) expected, scheduled
- (relaxed; everyday use) ceremonial, formal
Noun
casual
(plural casuals)- (British, NZ) A worker who is only working for a company occasionally, not as its permanent employee.
- A soldier temporarily at a place of duty, usually en route to another place of duty.
- (UK) A member of a group of football hooligans who wear expensive designer clothing to avoid police attention; see Casual (subculture).
- One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.