nonchalance

noun

non·​cha·​lance ˌnän-shə-ˈlän(t)s How to pronounce nonchalance (audio)
ˌnän-shə-ˌlän(t)s,
-lən(t)s
: the quality or state of being nonchalant
She faced the crowd with the nonchalance of an experienced speaker.

Examples of nonchalance in a Sentence

with their usual nonchalance they arrived at the wedding ceremony half an hour late
Recent Examples on the Web In private, Gottwald apparently projected nonchalance in the face of his challenges. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2023 Even those seemingly casual displays of nonchalance are often thoughtfully calculated by glam squads, especially since the paparazzi’s incessant flashes rarely take a break. Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2023 The tone of Brad Stevens was similar to the Celtics’ attitude toward some of their critical playoff games: a casualness, a nonchalance, a disturbing coolness. Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023 Yet for a band that embraced talk of death with nonchalance, and at times even treated the subject like a punchline, the performance often felt like an earnest acknowledgment of the sanctity of life. Victoria Wasylak, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023 Calm, peace and nonchalance are perhaps the greatest luxury of the modern era of income inequality and the perpetual grind to maintain a semblance of a middle class existence. Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023 Of the three, the newest record most closely mirrors the lyrical nonchalance and alternative dance sound of the band’s last album, After Laughter. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2023 As words are stripped away, nonchalance also fades, leaving in its wake something hotter and raw. Kamran Javadizadeh, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023 Only a generation ago in Qatar, this nonchalance toward obvious markers of wealth would have been unimaginable. Christina Goldbaum Erin Schaff, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonchalance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonchalance was in 1678

Dictionary Entries Near nonchalance

Cite this Entry

“Nonchalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonchalance. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

nonchalance

noun
non·​cha·​lance ˌnän-shə-ˈlän(t)s How to pronounce nonchalance (audio)
ˈnän-shə-ˌlän(t)s
: the quality or state of being nonchalant

More from Merriam-Webster on nonchalance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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