Casual — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈka-zhə-wəl/ ca·su·al

Meaning & Definition of Casual

Casual (adjective)

  1. subject to, resulting from, or occurring by chance
  2. occurring without regularity, occasional
  3. employed for irregular periods

Casual (noun)

  1. a casual or migratory worker
  2. an officer or enlisted person awaiting assignment or transportation to a unit

Casual (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not designed to be worn only on special occasions

    "a restaurant where people in casual clothes are always welcome"

    similar: everyday, informal, workaday
    related: dégagé, relaxed, sporty, dressed down, shabby, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt
    opposite: dressy, formal, noncasual
    near: best, Sunday, dressed up, chic, elegant, fashionable, smart, stylish, neat, tidy, trim, semiformal

  2. happening by chance

    "a casual meeting with the next-door neighbors on a beach in Hawaii"

    similar: accidental, chance, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, unwitting
    related: coincidental, freak, odd, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, random, uncertain, unexpected, unforeseeable, unforeseen, coerced, forced, involuntary, unconscious, unprompted
    opposite: calculated, deliberate, intended, intentional, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, set
    near: certain, destined, expected, fixed, foreordained, foreseeable, foreseen, inevitable, predestined, predetermined, predictable, preordained, prescribed, sure, conscious, freewill, knowing, unforced, voluntary, volunteer, willful

  3. having or showing a lack of interest or concern

    "only a casual examination of the bicycle before buying it"

    similar: apathetic, complacent, disinterested, incurious, indifferent, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory, pococurante, unconcerned, uncurious, uninterested
    related: halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid, aloof, cold, numb, remote, unemotional, callous, hard-hearted, insensitive, unfeeling, calm, cool, detached, dispassionate, careless, heedless, mindless, impassive, impervious, phlegmatic, stoic, stolid, lethargic, listless, unimpressed
    opposite: concerned, interested
    near: attentive, aware, conscientious, heedful, mindful, caring, sensitive, warmhearted, ardent, fervent, keen, passionate, warm, zealous

  4. lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence

    "a casual attendance at their son's hockey games"

    similar: aperiodic, catchy, choppy, discontinuous, episodic, erratic, fitful, intermittent, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, spastic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady
    related: convulsive, sudden, violent, broken, disconnected, fragmentary, interrupted, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, hit-and-miss, hit-or-miss, odd, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, capricious, changeful, changing, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, varying, wavering, changeable, fickle, variable, volatile
    opposite: constant, continuous, habitual, periodic, regular, repeated, steady
    near: changeless, equable, even, stable, stationary, uniform, unchanging, unvarying, unwavering, methodical, orderly, systematic, unrelenting, unremitting

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Casual

The most common words with a similar meaning to Casual:

everyday, informal, workaday, accidental, chance, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, unwitting, apathetic, complacent, disinterested, incurious, indifferent, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory, pococurante, unconcerned, uncurious, uninterested, aperiodic, catchy, choppy, discontinuous, episodic, erratic, fitful, intermittent, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, spastic, sporadic

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Casual

Words with the opposite meaning of Casual:

dressy, formal, noncasual, calculated, deliberate, intended, intentional, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, set, concerned, interested, constant, continuous, habitual, periodic, regular, repeated, steady

Related Words for Casual

dégagé, relaxed, sporty, dressed down, shabby, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, coincidental, freak, odd, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, random, uncertain, unexpected, unforeseeable, unforeseen, coerced, forced, involuntary, unconscious, unprompted, halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid, aloof, cold

Near Antonyms of Casual

best, Sunday, dressed up, chic, elegant, fashionable, smart, stylish, neat, tidy, trim, semiformal, certain, destined, expected, fixed, foreordained, foreseeable, foreseen, inevitable, predestined, predetermined, predictable, preordained, prescribed, sure, conscious, freewill, knowing, unforced

Word Forms of Casual

Derived words: casually (adverb), casualness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Casual

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French casuel, from Late Latin casualis, from Latin casus fall, chance case

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Casual

Words & Phrases Containing Casual

casual water, casual observer, fast-casual

Frequently Asked Questions about Casual

What does "Casual" mean?

"Casual" means subject to, resulting from, or occurring by chance. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: subject to, resulting from, or occurring by chance. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Casual"?

Other words for "Casual" include everyday, informal, workaday, accidental, chance, fluky, fortuitous and inadvertent. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Casual" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Casual"?

There are 125 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Casual". Common alternatives include everyday, informal, workaday, accidental, chance, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental and unintended.

What is the opposite of "Casual"?

Antonyms of "Casual" include dressy, formal, noncasual, calculated, deliberate, intended, intentional and planned. Near antonyms include best, Sunday, dressed up and chic.

How do you use "Casual" in a sentence?

Examples of "Casual" in a sentence: "a restaurant where people in casual clothes are always welcome"; "a casual meeting with the next-door neighbors on a beach in Hawaii"; "only a casual examination of the bicycle before buying it".

Is "Casual" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Casual" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Casual" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Casual" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Casual"?

"Casual" is pronounced /ˈka-zhə-wəl/ and divided into syllables as ca·su·al.