Etymologically
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casual

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 10:20. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈkaʒ(uː)əl/, /ˈkaʒjuːəl/ (UK); /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, /ˈkæʒwəl/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English casuel, borrowed from Old French casuel and Late Latin cāsuālis (“by chance”),[2][3][4] from cāsus (“fall, chance, event”) (see case).[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Subject to or produced by chance; accidental: about 1374 in the OED,[6] about 1384 in Barnhart.[2]

Semantic evolution

Occurring at uncertain times, irregular, is from about 1460,[6][4] and happening without design, offhand, from 1667.[6][4] A casual labourer works irregularly.[7][8] Of persons, not dependable or unmethodical, it is from 1883, and showing lack of interest from 1916.[3] Of clothes, informal, it is from 1891.[3] Casualty meant a chance charge or payment in 1422 and a mishap from 1442.[2] In golf, casual water is temporary water on the course (1899).[6]

Timeline

  • c. 1374 – by chance.[6]
  • c. 1460 – irregular.[6]
  • 1667 – without design.[6]
  • 1891 – of clothes, informal.[3]
  • 1916 – showing little interest.[3]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Relaxed and unconcerned; showing little interest.
  2. Happening by chance; not planned: a casual meeting.
  3. Informal, especially of clothes.
  4. Not regular or permanent: casual work.
  5. Without deep involvement: a casual relationship.

Noun

  1. A worker employed irregularly.

Word family

  • casually
  • casualness
  • decasualize
  • overcasual
  • ultracasual
  • uncasual
  • casualty
  • casual water

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins