1
: subject to, resulting from, or occurring by chance
a casual meeting
2
a
: occurring without regularity : occasional
casual employment
b
: employed for irregular periods
a casual worker
c
: met with on occasion and known only superficially
a casual friend
3
a(1)
: feeling or showing little concern : nonchalant
a casual approach to cooking
(2)
: lacking a high degree of interest or devotion
casual sports fans
casual readers
(3)
: done without serious intent or commitment
casual sex
(2)
: designed for informal use
casual clothing
(3)
: allowing for the wearing of informal clothes
… I had my wedding skirt (yep, skirt—it was a casual wedding) …—
Rory Evans
Rory Evanscasual Fridays [=Fridays when employees (as in an office) are allowed to wear casual clothing]
casually
adverb
casualness
noun
1
: a casual (see casual entry 1 sense 2b) or migratory worker
2
: an officer or enlisted person awaiting assignment or transportation to a unit
Synonyms
Examples of casual in a Sentence
Adjective
a casual encounter on the sidewalk
The atmosphere at the meeting was quite casual.
He made a casual remark about her shoes.
He's a casual sports fan.
Recent Examples on the WebBud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2024
Her performance outfits have always swung casual and coy, featuring notes of Americana and ‘cottage-core’ that tie into the singer’s musical tendency toward retro nostalgia.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024
Wear it while lounging at home or for a day around town for a casual yet stylish look.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2024
All a casual consumer of news would know about the death of Dexter Reed is that Chicago police shot a black man.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
This is about rewarding the top six teams in each conference, while manufacturing a reason for casual fans to tune in and getting everyone amped for the regular playoffs.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2024
Narrow Toe Boxes Until recently, the majority of toe boxes — for casual and athletic shoes alike — slanted sharply inward on both sides, sort of like a torpedo.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead, the violence is direct, at times shockingly casual and unsettling, so much so that its unpleasantness almost comes as a surprise.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Thomas Keller will also unveil his seasonal pop-up restaurant addendum—a more casual take on Ad Hoc, serving classic American comfort food (a great alternative to his famed restaurant, The French Laundry, where tables can be hard to come by).
—Amy Louise Bailey, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2024
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 2024
This seems to speak to the push-and-pull between work and leisure, the casual and the polished that is currently defining the post-pandemic landscape.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2024
But the Super Bowl is one event where the casuals make up a much larger share of the money.
—Mark Anderson, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
And true Sharks fans and casuals alike deserve better than this dredge.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Red Dog: Red Dog Casino is the best option for new players, casuals, or budget-conscious gamers.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Last week, my colleague Daniel Rodgers commented on her sudden pivot to smart casual off the back of a pair of chinos.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2024
The living room opens onto two dining rooms — one formal and one casual — and a two-tone gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances.
—Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
On Peak 8, this is a solid go-to for great views and a more relaxed atmosphere for your casual après in Breckenridge.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2023
Adjective
Tropic Lady takes the Bearded Lady’s casual vibe to the beach.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2024
Her performance outfits have always swung casual and coy, featuring notes of Americana and ‘cottage-core’ that tie into the singer’s musical tendency toward retro nostalgia.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024
Wear it while lounging at home or for a day around town for a casual yet stylish look.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2024
All a casual consumer of news would know about the death of Dexter Reed is that Chicago police shot a black man.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
This is about rewarding the top six teams in each conference, while manufacturing a reason for casual fans to tune in and getting everyone amped for the regular playoffs.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2024
Narrow Toe Boxes Until recently, the majority of toe boxes — for casual and athletic shoes alike — slanted sharply inward on both sides, sort of like a torpedo.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead, the violence is direct, at times shockingly casual and unsettling, so much so that its unpleasantness almost comes as a surprise.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Thomas Keller will also unveil his seasonal pop-up restaurant addendum—a more casual take on Ad Hoc, serving classic American comfort food (a great alternative to his famed restaurant, The French Laundry, where tables can be hard to come by).
—Amy Louise Bailey, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
The casuals, of course, will sneer at Jokic’s road to a title compared to the Chiefs’ most recent path to a repeat.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 2024
This seems to speak to the push-and-pull between work and leisure, the casual and the polished that is currently defining the post-pandemic landscape.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2024
But the Super Bowl is one event where the casuals make up a much larger share of the money.
—Mark Anderson, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
And true Sharks fans and casuals alike deserve better than this dredge.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Red Dog: Red Dog Casino is the best option for new players, casuals, or budget-conscious gamers.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Last week, my colleague Daniel Rodgers commented on her sudden pivot to smart casual off the back of a pair of chinos.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2024
The living room opens onto two dining rooms — one formal and one casual — and a two-tone gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances.
—Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
On Peak 8, this is a solid go-to for great views and a more relaxed atmosphere for your casual après in Breckenridge.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'casual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near casual
Cite this Entry
“Casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/casual. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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