casual

12 synonyms and 2 antonyms for casual, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Relaxed and informal, especially in style, manner, or dress.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

chance everyday daily

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

relaxed informal occasional fooling

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

laid-back offhand nonchalant effortless cursory

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Relaxed and informal, especially in style, manner, or dress.

“We chose a casual restaurant where nobody minded jeans and trainers.”

relaxed informal laid-back offhand nonchalant occasional effortless chance everyday fooling daily cursory

Opposites

formal

2. adj

Happening occasionally or without a fixed pattern; not regular or permanent.

“She found casual work at a café, with no regular hours.”

Opposites

regular

How to use casual

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

casual clothes casual work casual attitude

Etymology

From Old French casuel, from Latin casualis, "happening by chance," from casus, "an event" — the same root as "case" and "cadence."

Full origin of casual →

Frequently asked questions

What does “casual” mean?

The word “casual” means relaxed and informal, especially in style, manner, or dress. In plain terms, relaxed and informal, or (for work) irregular and not permanent.

How do you pronounce “casual”?

“Casual” is pronounced KAZHUHL (/ˈkæʒ(u)əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “casual” in a sentence?

Here is “casual” used in a sentence: “The office has a casual dress code on Fridays.”

What part of speech is “casual”?

Depending on how it is used, “casual” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “casual” come from?

The word “casual” comes from Latin. From Old French casuel, from Latin casualis, "happening by chance," from casus, "an event" — the same root as "case" and "cadence.".

Is “casual” a common word?

“Casual” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “casual” have?

“Casual” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relaxed and informal, especially in style, manner, or dress.

What is the difference between 'casual' and 'formal'?

Casual describes a relaxed, informal style, manner, or dress, while formal describes something following strict rules or conventions. A casual outfit might be jeans and a T-shirt, whereas formal wear follows a dress code, such as a suit or evening dress.

What is the difference between 'casual' and 'informal'?

The two words overlap and both mean relaxed and not strict. Casual often stresses ease and a lack of effort or planning, while informal simply means not official or ceremonial, so an informal meeting can still be businesslike even if it is not casual in tone.

What words commonly follow 'casual'?

Casual is often followed by nouns like wear, clothing, dress, conversation, glance, acquaintance, and labour. The phrase 'smart casual' describes a dress code that is relaxed but still neat, sitting between casual and formal.

People also searched

chance daily regular formal everyday occasional relaxed informal fooling effortless cursory nonchalant

Nearby words

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