nonchalant

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
15
Words With Friends
19
Letters
10
Pronunciation
/ˈnɒn.ʃəl.ənt/(UK)
See all 2 pronunciations
/ˈnɒn.ʃəl.ənt/(UK) · /ˌnɑn.ʃəˈlɑnt/(US)

Definition of nonchalant

2 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

adj

  1. Casually calm and relaxed.
    “We handled the whole frenetic situation with a nonchalant attitude.”
    “On the other hand, to arrive after dusk, when the multitude of garish little public-houses are lit up, giving glimpses of crowded jostling bars and taprooms, is an introduction to a fine city well calculated to affect even the most nonchalant.”
    “[…] The Mexican government's response to the American bombing was admirably laid back. General Enrique Diaz Gonzales and Consul General Raul Michel met with United States officials, who issued apologies and an invitation to come to "the next rocket shoot" at White Sands. The Mexican citizenry was similarly nonchalant. "Bomb Blast Fails to Halt Spring Fiesta," said the El Paso Times headline, noting that "many thought the explosion was a cannon fired for the opening of the fiesta."”
    “Undaunted by the occasion, Ruthe went on to become the first 15-year-old to run a sub-four-minute mile, even managing a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders as he crossed the finish line.”
See all 2 definitions

adj

  1. Casually calm and relaxed.
    “We handled the whole frenetic situation with a nonchalant attitude.”
    “On the other hand, to arrive after dusk, when the multitude of garish little public-houses are lit up, giving glimpses of crowded jostling bars and taprooms, is an introduction to a fine city well calculated to affect even the most nonchalant.”
    “[…] The Mexican government's response to the American bombing was admirably laid back. General Enrique Diaz Gonzales and Consul General Raul Michel met with United States officials, who issued apologies and an invitation to come to "the next rocket shoot" at White Sands. The Mexican citizenry was similarly nonchalant. "Bomb Blast Fails to Halt Spring Fiesta," said the El Paso Times headline, noting that "many thought the explosion was a cannon fired for the opening of the fiesta."”
    “Undaunted by the occasion, Ruthe went on to become the first 15-year-old to run a sub-four-minute mile, even managing a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders as he crossed the finish line.”
  2. Indifferent; unconcerned; behaving as if detached.
    “He is far too nonchalant about such a serious matter.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

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”).

Words you can make from nonchalant

147 playable · top: LANTHANON (12 pts)

Best play lanthanon 12 points

8-letter words

1 word

7-letter words

2 words

6-letter words

13 words

5-letter words

35 words

4-letter words

45 words

3-letter words

35 words

2-letter words

15 words

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