cas'

Adjective

casual (comparative more casual, superlative most casual)

1. Happening by chance.
   • They only had casual meetings.

   Synonyms:

   accidental, fortuitous, incidental, occasional, random, accidentary, adventitious, by accident, by the by, causeless

   Antonyms:

   inevitable, necessary

2. Coming without regularity; occasional or incidental.
   • The purchase of donuts was just a casual expense.

   Synonyms:

   ad hoc

3. Employed irregularly.
   • He was just a casual worker.
4. Careless.
   • I removed my jacket and threw it casually over the back of the settee.2007, Nick Holland, The Girl on the Bus, page 117

   Synonyms:

   easygoing, unconcerned, airy, at ease, at peace, carefree, careless, chill, cool, devil-may-care

5. Happening or coming to pass without design.
   • It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 8, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   unexpected, unplanned, ad lib, extemporal, extemporary, extemporaneous, extempore, extemporized, gash, impromptu

   Antonyms:

   expected, scheduled

6. (usage, or milieu) Informal; relaxed.
   • tone in casual interactions

   Synonyms:

   colloquial

   Antonyms:

   strict, formal, official

See all 16 meanings of casual