The nonchalant meaning is relaxed and calm, showing no worry, excitement or strong interest, often in a moment when other people would react. A student who strolls into an exam hall humming while everyone else is cramming looks nonchalant.
The word describes how someone appears. A person can feel nervous inside and still act nonchalant, and that gap is part of why the word is so useful. Depending on the situation it can sound admiring (cool under pressure) or critical (too casual about something serious).
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Casually calm; not showing concern or excitementPart of speech
AdjectivePronunciation
US non-shuh-LAHNT; UK often NON-shuh-luhntWord forms
nonchalantly (adverb), nonchalance (noun)Origin
French nonchalant, from nonchaloir, "not to care"; in English from the 1730sOpposite
anxious, flustered, eager, concernedRegister
Neutral; fine in speech and writing
The nonchalant meaning, one idea with two shades
What is the meaning of nonchalant, exactly? It has one main sense with two shades:
- Calm and composed, as in a pilot giving a nonchalant update during bumpy weather. Here it suggests confidence.
- Casual or offhand, as in a nonchalant reply to an important email. Here it can suggest too little care.
In both, the core idea is a relaxed outward manner. Listeners decide from context whether that calm is a strength or a problem.
Origin: a word about not feeling the heat
English borrowed nonchalant from French in the 1730s. The French adjective comes from the old verb nonchaloir, "to be unconcerned", made of non (not) and chaloir (to matter to someone, to concern). That verb goes back to the Latin calere, "to be warm". So the word once pictured a person who does not get heated about things. The noun nonchalance actually reached English a little earlier, in the late 1600s.
Nonchalant in sentences
- He gave a nonchalant shrug when the waiter said his order would take an hour.
- Try to sound nonchalant in the interview, even if your hands are shaking.
- The cat walked nonchalantly past the barking dog.
- Her nonchalance about the deadline worried the rest of the team.
- The goalkeeper looked almost nonchalant as he saved the penalty.
How to use it: grammar and pairings
You can put nonchalant before a noun (a nonchalant smile) or after a linking verb such as seem, look or act (she seemed nonchalant). It often pairs with about: nonchalant about the results, nonchalant about money. Useful pairings include act nonchalant, try to look nonchalant, a nonchalant air, a nonchalant wave and remain nonchalant.
The adverb is nonchalantly ("he nonchalantly tossed the keys"), and the noun is nonchalance ("with studied nonchalance"). The phrase studied nonchalance means calm that is clearly put on for effect.
Among young people, being "nonchalant" can also mean playing it cool, for example not showing how much you like someone. That casual use is fine in chat, but in formal writing stick to the standard sense.
Close words and the opposite of nonchalant
| Word | Nuance |
|---|---|
| Nonchalant | Relaxed and unconcerned, often in a stylish way |
| Casual | Informal, not planned or serious |
| Indifferent | Truly not caring; colder than nonchalant |
| Aloof | Distant from people, unfriendly |
| Stoic | Enduring pain or trouble without complaint |
| Apathetic | Lacking interest or energy to care |
Opposites depend on the shade: anxious, flustered or panicky for the calm sense, and eager, keen or concerned for the not-caring sense.
Common mistakes
Spelling trips people up: it is nonchalant, with ch and one l, not "nonchalent" or "nonshalant". The ch is said like sh because the word is French. Another mistake is using it to mean rude. A nonchalant person is calm, not necessarily impolite. If you mean cold or unfriendly, aloof or dismissive is better.
Moods and manners have their own hub, words that describe people, and you can also look up demeanor.
Frequently asked questions
Is nonchalant a compliment?
It can be. Calling someone nonchalant under pressure praises their cool head. Calling someone nonchalant about a serious problem suggests they do not care enough.
How do you pronounce nonchalant?
In American English it is usually non-shuh-LAHNT, with the stress at the end. Many British speakers say NON-shuh-luhnt, with the stress at the start.
What is the definition of nonchalant in one sentence?
Nonchalant means calm and relaxed in a way that shows no worry or strong interest. It describes outward manner more than inner feeling.
What does nonchalance mean?
Nonchalance is the noun: a calm, casual and unconcerned manner. You might say a singer walked on stage with total nonchalance.
Can you define nonchalant for kids?
Nonchalant means acting cool and relaxed, like nothing is a big deal. If your sister acts nonchalant about her birthday, she is pretending not to be excited.
Is nonchalant the same as careless?
Not quite. Careless means making mistakes from lack of attention. Nonchalant is about seeming relaxed, which may or may not lead to mistakes.