I. ˈkazhəwəl also -zhəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English casuel, casual, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French casuel, from Late Latin casualis, from Latin casus fall, chance — more at case
1.
a. : subject to or produced as a result of chance
where casual fire had wasted woods — John Milton
: without design : not resulting from plan
not merely casual but a part of one great plan
b. : occuring, appearing, or singled out by chance or without calculated intent
seek help from casual passers-by
: without specific motivation, special interest, or constant purpose
an unusual ability to interest casual students — John Gillin
most comment, whether casual or deliberate — Felix Frankfurter
c. : without foresight, plan, or method : not considered : haphazard
information collected by casual methods and in their spare time
2.
a. : occurring, encountered, acting, or performed without regularity or at random : occasional
casual kindnesses
exhausted firemen were getting casual soup and sleep on the floors — Christopher Morley
b. Britain
(1) : of the class of poor persons receiving occasional relief as distinguished from those receiving regular relief or being permanent inmates of workhouses
the casual poor
(2) : of or for those poor persons or vagrants who are not residents of the place where they receive public aid or work — see casual ward
c. of a workman : having no steady employment but engaged for irregular periods especially at an hourly or daily rate and at jobs requiring little training
3. obsolete : subject to accident : uncertain , precarious
the body is frail and casual
4.
a. : feeling or showing little concern or interest : not giving close attention : indifferent , nonchalant
tried to look casual … but it was the handsomest house he had ever entered — Sinclair Lewis
b.
(1) : without ceremony or formality : unstudied , informal
referring to dear friends by their Christian names in a casual and familiar way — Havelock Ellis
: free from constraint : not showing effort or strain : natural , easy
a difficult feat performed with casual mastery
(2) : suited by simplicity, comfort, and informality or design for everyday wear or use or for any occasion other than formal
a casual coat for town or country wear
c. : of little interest, concern, or importance : without significance : unimportant
subjects homely, slight, and casual — E.J.Banfield
Synonyms: see accidental , random
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a casual or migratory worker
b. Britain : vagrant ; especially : one who receives relief in a casual ward
2. : an officer or enlisted man who is awaiting assignment or who is awaiting transportation to his unit
3. : an article of dress for casual wear
4. : an essay written in a familiar often humorous style