nonchalant means casually calm and relaxed. It carries an Arena rating of 1930, earned across 19 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, nonchalant ranks #1,430 of 17,116 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,765 of 17,120 for Most Beautiful Words, #2,282 of 17,113 for Most Elegant Words, #2,362 of 17,130 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
nonchalant is pronounced /ˈnɒn.ʃəl.ənt/.
Why “nonchalant” is a great word
Casually calm and relaxed, displaying a lack of concern or anxiety. From French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir ("to be unconcerned"), from non- ("not") + chaloir ("to have concern for"), from Latin non ("not") + calēre ("to be warm"). First attested in English in 1734. Unlike "indifferent," which suggests a vacuum of interest, or "careful," which implies fretful attention, nonchalance is a performance of ease, a studied coolness that may veil a simmering regard. It is the shrug perfected, the cigarette tapped with unconcern, the hands slid into pockets while the world holds its breath—a mastery not of feeling, but of show, where the warmth of care is artfully concealed beneath a surface of perfect chill.
Etymology
Borrowed from French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir (“to be unconcerned”), from non- (“not”) + chaloir (“to have concern for”), from Latin non (“not”) + calēre (“to be warm”).
adj
- Casually calm and relaxed.e.g.“We handled the whole frenetic situation with a nonchalant attitude.”
- Indifferent; unconcerned; behaving as if detached.e.g.“He is far too nonchalant about such a serious matter.”
Words closest in meaning
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