casual

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective without care / attention 1 [usuallybeforenoun] 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 [usuallybeforenoun] 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 [usuallybeforenoun] (BrE) not permanent; not done, or doing sth regularly: casual workers / labour * Students sometimes do casual work in the building or tourist trades. * They are employed on a casual basis (= they do not have a permanent job with the company). relationship 5 [usuallybeforenoun] 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 [onlybeforenoun] 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. casually 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 casualness 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 * She changed into flat casuals before walking round the town. worker 2 [C] a casual worker (= one who does not work permanently for a company)