1 insouciance | Definition of insouciance
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

insouciance

noun
in·​sou·​ci·​ance | \ in-ˈsĂŒ-sē-ən(t)s How to pronounce insouciance (audio) , aⁿ-sĂŒs-ˈyÀⁿs How to pronounce insouciance (audio) \

Definition of insouciance

: lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance
Other Words from insouciance Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about insouciance

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from insouciance

insouciant \ in-​ˈsĂŒ-​sē-​ənt How to pronounce insouciant (audio) , aⁿ-​sĂŒs-​ˈyÀⁿ \ adjective
insouciantly \ in-​ˈsĂŒ-​sē-​ənt-​lē How to pronounce insouciantly (audio) \ adverb

Did You Know?

Don't worry - be insouciant. Perhaps your mind will rest easier if we explain that English speakers learned "insouciance" from the French in the 1700s (and the adjective "insouciant" has been part of our language since the 1800s). The French word comes from a combination of the negative prefix in- and soucier, meaning "to trouble or disturb." "Soucier" in turn traces to "sollicitus," the Latin word for "anxious." If it seems to you that "sollicitus" looks a lot like some other English words you've seen, you're right. That root also gave us "solicit" (which now means "to entreat" but which was once used to mean "to fill with concern or anxiety"), "solicitude" (meaning "uneasiness of mind"), and "solicitous" ("showing or expressing concern").

Examples of insouciance in a Sentence

wandered into the meeting with complete insouciance to the fact that she was late

Recent Examples on the Web

 Eckersley brings that insouciance into the broadcast booth. — Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, "‘I got lucky, man.’ Dennis Eckersley on surviving his tough times," 16 July 2019 Over on the continent was French singer-songwriter Lou Doillon, who made a pit stop in Krakow, Poland for her current tour, bringing a little Gallic insouciance to Eastern Europe along the way. — Vogue, "The Best Fashion Instagrams of the Week: Billie Eilish, Lou Doillon, Janelle MonĂĄe, and More," 25 May 2019 But the show’s appeal lies less in its plot than in its off-kilter insouciance. — Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker, "Off-Kilter Humor on “Los Espookys” and “Alternatino”," 1 July 2019 Consider Jagger's latest dye job a decidedly millennial approach to summertime insouciance. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "Georgia May Jagger's High-Impact Hair Color is Surprisingly Low-Maintenance," 31 May 2019 The veteran reporter recounts in vivid detail not only the depravity of Kelly’s alleged behavior, but also the insouciance—or worse, active support—with which his associates, fans, and legal gatekeepers handled him after it was revealed. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "Soulless and the Fallacy of R. Kelly’s Need for ‘Help’," 6 June 2019 On this tune the tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown improvises with a combination of breezy insouciance and sharp rhythmic assurance. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: The 1975 Talk About Its Generation, and 9 More New Songs," 1 June 2018 Key elements of '70's jet set style: insouciance, and a headscarf. — Veronique Hyland, Harper's BAZAAR, "Tie One On With Ferragamo's New Headscarves," 18 Jan. 2011 To wit: the colorful stripes on CĂ©line's classic luggage tote for the resort season, which has all the laidback insouciance of the Me Decade in a look that's completely right now. — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, "We're Obsessed: Celine Stripes," 4 Nov. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insouciance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of insouciance

1799, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for insouciance

French, from in- + soucier to trouble, disturb, from Old French, from Latin sollicitare — more at solicit

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for insouciance

insouciance

noun
How to pronounce insouciance (audio) How to pronounce insouciance (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of insouciance

formal : a relaxed and calm state : a feeling of not worrying about anything

See the full definition for insouciance in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on insouciance

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with insouciance

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for insouciance

Nglish: Translation of insouciance for Spanish Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!