English Reference

Word

casual

Phoneticsca·su·al, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈkæʒəwəɫ/

UK/kˈæʒuːəl/

Definitions

01relaxed or informal

B1 · Intermediate

adj. relaxed and not formal in style or behavior.

adj. denoting a relaxed or informal style, manner, or attitude; not following strict social codes.

“The office has a casual dress code on Fridays, so most people wear jeans.”

“His casual approach to the meeting initially unsettled the clients, who were accustomed to a much more rigid and formal corporate culture.”

Antonyms

02not serious or committed

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. doing something without much interest, effort, or long-term commitment.

adj. characterised by a lack of deep interest, serious intent, or permanent commitment.

“They were just casual acquaintances who saw each other at the gym occasionally.”

“A casual observer might miss the subtle architectural details that make this cathedral unique among its contemporaries.”

Synonyms

superficialuncommittedcursory

03happening by chance

C1 · Advanced Formal

adj. happening by accident or without being planned.

adj. occurring by chance or without premeditation; incidental.

“A casual remark from a friend gave her the idea for her new book.”

“The investigation was sparked by a casual comment made during a routine audit, leading to the discovery of systemic financial errors.”

04irregular work

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. describing a job that is not permanent or does not have regular hours.

adj. relating to employment that is irregular, temporary, or lacks a permanent contract.

“She found some casual work at a local café during the summer holidays.”

“The rise of the gig economy has led to an increase in casual labor, often leaving workers without traditional benefits or job security.”

Antonyms

05temporary worker

C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English

n. a person who is employed on a temporary or irregular basis.

n. a worker employed on a non-permanent basis, typically without a guaranteed number of hours.

“The company hires several casuals during the busy Christmas period.”

“The union argued that long-term casuals should be offered the option to convert to permanent part-time status after twelve months of service.”

Usage

Commonly used in Australian and British English in the context of labor rights.

Synonyms

Antonyms

06non-serious gamer

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Informal · Slang

n. someone who plays video games occasionally but is not very serious about them.

n. a person who engages with a hobby, particularly gaming, in a relaxed or superficial manner.

“The game was designed to appeal to casuals who only have ten minutes to play.”

“Hardcore players often dismiss the new mechanics as a way to cater to casuals at the expense of deep strategy.”

Teaching tip

In gaming communities, this term is often used as a mild insult by more dedicated players.

Synonyms

hobbyist

Antonyms

hardcore gamerpro

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “casual” in context.

Verb

01. keep things casual

“They decided to keep things casual and just meet for coffee instead of a formal dinner.”

verb + noun + adj

02. look casual

“She tried to look casual as she walked past her ex-boyfriend's house.”

verb + adj

Adjective

03. casual about the rules

“The manager was surprisingly casual about the safety rules, which worried the staff.”

adj + prep

04. casual acquaintance

“I wouldn't call him a close friend; he's just a casual acquaintance from my gym.”

adj + noun

05. casual clothes

“On Fridays, employees are allowed to wear casual clothes to the office.”

adj + noun

06. casual observer

“To a casual observer, the two paintings might look identical, but the details are different.”

adj + noun

Noun

07. casual labor

“The farm relies on casual labor during the busy harvest season.”

noun + noun

08. casual remark

“A casual remark he made at dinner accidentally offended his host.”

noun + noun

Real-World Examples

“Reading from their script in a casual, un-actorly way, they gently prod Brecht’s story towards today.”
The Guardian 16 Aug 2026
“In families with six or seven children, parents may send only two or three to school while the others stay behind to collect firewood, fetch water or look for casual work.”
Al Jazeera 15 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle French casuel, from Late Latin cāsuālis (“happening by chance”), from Latin cāsus (“event”) (English case), from cadere (“to fall”) (whence English cadence).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

casual(B2)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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