/ ˈkæʒuəl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
WITHOUT CARE / ATTENTION
1.
[ usually before noun ] not showing much care or thought; seeming not to be worried; not wanting to show that sth is important to you :
a casual manner
It was just a casual remark—I wasn't really serious.
He tried to sound casual, but I knew he was worried.
They have a casual attitude towards safety (= they don't care enough) .
2.
[ usually before noun ] without paying attention to detail :
a casual glance
It's obvious even to the casual observer.
NOT FORMAL
3.
not formal :
casual clothes (= comfortable clothes that you choose to wear in your free time)
family parties and other casual occasions
WORK
4.
[ usually before noun ] ( BrE ) not permanent; not done, or doing sth regularly :
casual workers / labour
Students sometimes do casual work in the tourist trade.
They are employed on a casual basis (= they do not have a permanent job with the company) .
RELATIONSHIP
5.
[ usually before noun ] without deep affection :
a casual acquaintance
a casual friendship
to have casual sex (= to have sex without having a steady relationship with that partner)
BY CHANCE
6.
[ only before noun ] happening by chance; doing sth by chance :
a casual encounter / meeting
a casual passer-by
The exhibition is interesting to both the enthusiast and the casual visitor.
The disease is not spread by casual contact.
► cas·ual·ly adverb :
'What did he say about me?' she asked as casually as she could.
They chatted casually on the phone.
dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt
► cas·ual·ness noun [ U ]:
He was sure that the casualness of the gesture was deliberate.
■ noun
( BrE )
CLOTHES
1.
casuals [ pl. ] informal clothes or shoes :
dressed in casuals
WORKER
2.
[ C ] a casual worker (= one who does not work permanently for a company)
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in senses 4 to 6 of the adjective): from Old French casuel and Latin casualis , from casus fall.