Word of the Day

: February 19, 2022

nonchalant

adjective nahn-shuh-LAHNT

What It Means

Nonchalant means "having an air of easy unconcern or indifference."

// The most experienced public speakers are able to address audiences with a nonchalant ease.

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nonchalant in Context

"He was nonchalant about his ability to work with a wide range of other writers and composers." — Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times, 21 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Since nonchalant ultimately comes from words meaning "not" and "be warm," it's no surprise that the word is all about keeping one's cool. The French borrowing, nonchalant, has similar meaning and comes from Latin calēre, meaning "to be warm."