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nonchalant

adjective
non·​cha·​lant | \ ËŒnän-shÉ™-ˈlänt How to pronounce nonchalant (audio) ; ˈnän-shÉ™-ËŒlänt, -lÉ™nt\

Definition of nonchalant

: having an air of easy unconcern or indifference
Other Words from nonchalant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Stay Cool With the History of Nonchalant Example Sentences Learn More about nonchalant

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Choose the Right Synonym for nonchalant

cool, composed, collected, unruffled, imperturbable, nonchalant mean free from agitation or excitement. cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness. kept a cool head composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition. the composed pianist gave a flawless concert collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis. the nurse stayed calm and collected unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement. harried but unruffled imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation. the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern. a nonchalant driver

Stay Cool With the History of Nonchalant

Since "nonchalant" comes ultimately from Latin words meaning "not" and "be warm," it's no surprise that the word is all about keeping one's cool. The French word nonchalant, which we borrowed around 1734, has essentially the same meaning as our English word and was derived in Old French from a verb, "nonchaloir," which meant "to disregard." "Nonchaloir" in turn combines the negative "non-" with "chaloir," which means "to concern" and comes from the Latin calēre ("to be warm"). "Unconcerned" is one synonym of "nonchalant," along with "casual," "complacent," and "insouciant."

Examples of nonchalant in a Sentence

In those stories, we already find the qualities the world would come to know as "Kafkaesque": the nonchalant intrusion of the bizarre and horrible into everyday life, the subjection of ordinary people to an inscrutable fate. — Adam Kirsch, New York Times Book Review, 4 Jan. 2009 … watch his iron-backed posture as he rides a horse and listen to the nonchalant way in which, not barking but speaking he says "Fire" to the line of infantry, like someone asking for a light. — John Updike, New Yorker, 30 Sept. 2002 He and Anita (and an ancient, nonchalant Lhasa apso … ) live in a gated community, surrounded by high, vine-covered walls, redolent of Wrigley, that embrace a golf club and an attractive thicket of large houses … — Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 19 Mar. 2001 It was thrilling to watch them, the regulars, so nonchalant, so composed as they slipped from Senate cloakroom to Senate hideaway, sharing jokes with powerful men old enough to be their fathers. — Ward Just, New York Times Book Review, 28 May 1989 He was surprisingly nonchalant about winning the award. She faced the crowd with the nonchalant ease of an experienced speaker. The team may have been somewhat nonchalant at the beginning of the season, but they now know that they need to work hard.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Though it’s incredibly bloody, Zombieland feels appealingly low-stakes, in large part because the hero is so nonchalant. — Noel Murray, The Verge, "The Dead Don’t Die is a perfect excuse to return to Zombieland," 14 June 2019 Other people appeared nonchalant as they were detained. — Washington Post, "The Latest: Arrests at unsanctioned Moscow protest up to 600," 4 Aug. 2019 Some other detainees appeared nonchalant, smirking or checking their phones as police led them to buses. — Jim Heintz, BostonGlobe.com, "Hundreds detained at political protest in Moscow," 3 Aug. 2019 Although students described Haughwout’s behavior as joking and nonchalant, some of those students indicated a sense of alarm. — Dave Altimari, courant.com, "Attorney: Supreme Court ruling upholding expulsion of CCSU student who built gun-firing drone could impact Alex Jones case," 29 July 2019 The hard-working business-savvy siblings appear nonchalant by the responsibility of owning and operating a small business in one of Louisville’s hottest spots. — Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, "This new Highlands café blends the owners' Euro-Asian heritage with a Gen-Z vibe," 18 June 2019 Tommy Sheppard had indulged in a nonchalant morning. — Rebecca Nathanson, Harper's magazine, "English Referendums and Scotch Voters," 19 June 2019 Indeed, with his nonchalant display of wit, poise, and indifference that aimed to astonish rather than to please, Brummell created not only the modern concept of individuality but celebrity. — Ignacio Peyró, National Geographic, "This 19th-century London dandy caused a style revolution," 18 June 2019 Trump was similarly nonchalant in Ireland on Wednesday, after flying there from London in order to spend two nights at his golf resort at Doonbeg. — Eli Stokols, latimes.com, "For Trump, it’s all personal; ideology takes second place," 7 June 2019

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

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First Known Use of nonchalant

circa 1734, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for nonchalant

French, from Old French, from present participle of nonchaloir to disregard, from non- + chaloir to concern, from Latin calēre to be warm — more at lee

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More Definitions for nonchalant

nonchalant

adjective
How to pronounce nonchalant (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of nonchalant

: relaxed and calm in a way that shows that you do not care or are not worried about anything

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

nonchalant

adjective
non·​cha·​lant | \ ËŒnän-shÉ™-ˈlänt How to pronounce nonchalant (audio) \

Kids Definition of nonchalant

: showing or having a relaxed manner free from concern or excitement He was surprisingly nonchalant about winning the award.

Other Words from nonchalant

nonchalantly \ -​ˈlänt-​lÄ“ \ adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on nonchalant

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with nonchalant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nonchalant

Spanish Central: Translation of nonchalant

Nglish: Translation of nonchalant for Spanish Speakers

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