Words / B1

KAZH-oo-uh-l/ˈkæʒuəl/

Casual clothes and attitudes are informal: casual dress; a casual remark; casual Friday. Informal is the closest twin; formal is the opposite for clothes and letters. Casual work means irregular hours, not a full contract — a useful jobs-page sense. Casually is the adverb. Do not use casual when you mean accidental (an accidental meeting) unless you mean relaxed rather than chance.

Meaning

Informal, especially of clothes or attitude; also not regular, as in a casual job.

Examples

• “You can wear casual clothes on Friday.”
• “The office allows casual dress in August.”
• “He found casual work in a warehouse during the holidays.”

Good to know

casual clothes / dress / remark. Opposite: formal. Jobs: casual work (not a full contract). Adverb: casually.

Near in meaning

informal

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