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 Weighty notions, these, all juggled with seeming nonchalance in a splendidly knotty yarn from D.C.-area native Jonathan Spector. Trey Graham, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 With the nonchalance of someone out for a neighborhood amble, Nikola Jokic ripped out the hearts of the Golden State Warriors with the buzzer beater of the year. Gabe Zaldivar, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 While the piece retails for $1,795, Pine pairs the loud knit with his workout wear, giving it an air of nonchalance. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2024 Fortune’s source says that the internal mood combines nonchalance and resilience. Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 20 Dec. 2023 Mizu is a strong, silent type a la Geralt of Rivia, complete with a chatty sidekick in the irrepressible Ringo (Masi Oka) — but the combination of intensity, nonchalance and badassery contained in Erskine’s rasp feels entirely her own. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2023 In real life, Rudberg carries his confidence in his attractiveness with regal nonchalance. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023 Such nonchalance was reflected in the 19-member board of directors for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which oversees the operation of the bridge and a regional bus and ferry system. John Branch Jim Wilson, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2023 Then there are the artists of the dining room, who carefully plot each detail: the guest list, the menu, the table décor, the topics of conversation, the caftan in which to greet one’s guests, communicating a precise balance of elegance and nonchalance. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2023

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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