Words / C2

NONSH-uh-l-uh-nt/ˈnɒnʃələnt/

Nonchalant means calmly unconcerned, sometimes too casually: a nonchalant wave, nonchalant about the risk. Casual (already in the dictionary) is everyday and wider; insouciant (already in the dictionary) is the close C2 twin. Unconcerned can be fair if the risk is closed. Do not perform nonchalance at an open fire door.

Meaning

Calm and apparently unconcerned, sometimes too casually.

Examples

• “A nonchalant shrug is not a fire-door minute.”
• “Casual is everyday (already in the dictionary). Insouciant is unworried (already in C2). Apathy is not caring at all (already in the dictionary). Calm after a dated fix is composure. A shrug instead of a name on the rota is nonchalance in the wrong place.”

Good to know

Casually unconcerned. Everyday: casual / unconcerned. Close: insouciant (already in C2). Composure after a fix ≠ a shrug at a flame.

Near in meaning

casual

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