relaxed and informal in style, manner, or appearance; not formal or strict
He arrived at the dinner in a casual T-shirt and jeans, while everyone else wore suits.
Our boss likes to keep meetings casual, so we talk over coffee in the lounge.
happening by chance without plan or intention
A casual conversation on the bus led them to become best friends.
He made a casual remark about the weather that offended her.
showing little interest, concern, or seriousness; indifferent or careless
He was casual about the safety rules and ended up injuring his hand.
She gave a casual shrug when asked about the exam results.
occurring, done, or used only sometimes; not regular or permanent
She works as a casual nurse on weekends to earn extra money.
The cafe hires casual staff during summer holidays.
a person who is employed only for a short period or irregularly, especially on a temporary or part-time basis
The supermarket relies on casuals to stock shelves overnight.
As a casual, he doesn't receive paid vacation days.
the part of a British hospital where people receive emergency treatment; the emergency department
She rushed her son to casualty after he broke his arm.
The waiting time in casualty was over two hours.
✦ British hospital slang from the early 20th century, shortening of “casualty department”.
a person who is killed or hurt in an accident, war, or other violent event
The battle ended at dawn with over fifty casualties on both sides.
Paramedics rushed to the scene to treat the casualty lying on the roadside.
✦ Late 15th century: from casualty meaning ‘chance’, later ‘accident’, from Latin casus ‘fall, case’.
something that is damaged, lost, or stops existing because of an event or change
The local bookstore became a casualty of the economic downturn.
Honesty was the first casualty in their heated argument.
✦ Extension of the primary sense ‘accidental loss or injury’ to abstract losses from the 19th century onward.
