ca·su·al
ˈka-zhə-wəl 
ˈkazh-wəl,
ˈka-zhəl
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 Web
Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2024
This strap offers a sporty and casual appearance, ensuring maximum comfort during physical activities and contributing to the watch's ultra-lightweight design (total weight with this strap: 49.5 grams).
—Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2024
The costume designer used emerging and luxury brands for Curry’s wardrobe, creating a mix of sporty casual and streetwear for the NBA player.
—Layla Ilchi, WWD, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for casual 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
As with a tombstone in the mergers-and-acquisitions business, there is an insider lingua franca that casual followers wouldn’t know.
—Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2024
This strap offers a sporty and casual appearance, ensuring maximum comfort during physical activities and contributing to the watch's ultra-lightweight design (total weight with this strap: 49.5 grams).
—Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
The city is always trying to formalize the casual and eliminate the slovenly, without sacrificing authenticity.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2024
The costume designer used emerging and luxury brands for Curry’s wardrobe, creating a mix of sporty casual and streetwear for the NBA player.
—Layla Ilchi, WWD, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for casual
Dictionary Entries Near casual
Cite this Entry
“Casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/casual. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share