Casual vs. Informal: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Casual refers to a relaxed or unplanned style or behavior, while informal denotes a lack of formalities or adherence to traditional standards.
Key Differences
Casual often describes a laid-back attitude or approach, emphasizing comfort and ease over strict rules or formality. It can apply to attire, language, or behavior. Informal, on the other hand, refers to a lack of formalities or ceremonial aspects, often seen in language, gatherings, or dress, where strict rules are relaxed.
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Nov 29, 2023
In clothing, casual attire typically means comfortable, everyday wear like jeans and T-shirts. This style is appropriate for many everyday situations but not for formal events. Informal dress, while also relaxed, may still adhere to certain social norms and can be suitable for events like casual business meetings or informal dinners, where some level of decorum is expected.
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When speaking of communication, casual language includes slang and colloquialisms, used among friends or in relaxed settings. It is personal and can include inside jokes or casual greetings. Informal language, while not adhering to formal standards like in business or academic writing, still maintains basic grammatical structure and is universally understandable, often used in emails or informal letters.
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In social gatherings, a casual event is one without an agenda, possibly spontaneous, like a casual meet-up at a café. Informal events, though planned, lack the rigid structure of formal events. They might include informal dinners or gatherings where guests are not expected to follow strict etiquette.
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In summary, casual implies a sense of ease and relaxation, often used in contexts where there are no expectations of formality. Informal, while also relaxed, suggests a deviation from formal standards but within an understood framework of conduct, especially in language and social settings.
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Comparison Chart
Language
Includes slang, very personal.
Less formal, but grammatically sound.
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Social Gatherings
Spontaneous, no fixed agenda.
Planned but without strict etiquette.
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Communication Tone
Very relaxed, can be intimate.
Friendly, approachable, not rigid.
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Business Context
Often too relaxed for professionalism.
Casual but maintains a level of professionalism.
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Casual and Informal Definitions
Casual
Relaxed and unconcerned.
She had a casual attitude towards her studies.
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Informal
Not conforming to prescribed formalities.
We had an informal agreement.
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Casual
Clothes or footwear designed for everyday wear.
Casual dress is preferred at the company.
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Informal
Having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style.
The meeting had an informal tone.
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Casual
Without much detail; superficial.
He gave the problem a casual glance.
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Informal
An event or situation that is relaxed and unofficial.
The party was an informal gathering.
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Casual
Being without ceremony or formality; relaxed or informal
A casual evening with friends.
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Oct 19, 2023
Informal
Language characterized by the absence of formality.
He used informal language in his email.
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Nov 29, 2023
Informal
Clothing suitable for everyday wear.
Informal attire is required for the event.
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Informal
Not formal or ceremonious; casual
An informal gathering of friends.
A relaxed, informal manner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Not serious or thorough; superficial
A casual inspection.
A casual understanding of French.
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Oct 19, 2023
Informal
Not being in accord with prescribed regulations or forms; unofficial
An informal agreement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Showing little interest or concern; nonchalant
"speaks with casual aplomb about being shot at" (Janelle Brown).
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Occurring or being such by chance
"in the first months when I was pregnant, before it was obvious to the casual observer" (Anne Roiphe).
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Oct 19, 2023
Informal
Characterized by nontechnical vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and relatively few explicit transitions, as typified by spoken language
Informal discourse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Occurring at irregular or infrequent intervals; occasional
Casual employment at a factory.
A casual correspondence with a former teacher.
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Casual
Socialized with only occasionally; not close or intimate
A casual acquaintance.
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Casual
Being or occurring between sexual partners who are not in an established relationship
Casual lovers.
Casual sex.
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Casual
One that serves or appears at irregular intervals, especially a temporary worker.
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Oct 19, 2023
Informal
Not in the regular, usual, or established form; not according to official, conventional, prescribed, or customary forms or rules; irregular; hence, without ceremony; as, an informal writing, proceeding, or visit.
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Casual
A soldier temporarily attached to a unit while awaiting permanent assignment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Informal
Not formal;
Conservative people unaccustomed to informal dress
An informal free-and-easy manner
An informal gathering of friends
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Coming without regularity; occasional or incidental.
The purchase of donuts was just a casual expense.
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Informal
Not officially recognized or controlled;
An informal agreement
A loose organization of the local farmers
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Informal
Having or fostering a warm or friendly atmosphere; especially through smallness and informality;
Had a cozy chat
A relaxed informal manner
An intimate cocktail lounge
The small room was cozy and intimate
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Casual
(of behavior, usage, or milieu) Informal; relaxed.
Tone in casual interactions
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Casual
(of clothing or utensils) Designed for informal or everyday use.
Business casual
Pants in the casual wear collection
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Casual
A worker who is only working for a company occasionally, not as its permanent employee.
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Casual
A soldier temporarily at a place of duty, usually en route to another place of duty.
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Casual
A member of a group of football hooligans who wear expensive designer clothing to avoid police attention; see casual (subculture).
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Casual
One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
A player of casual games.
The devs dumbed the game down so the casuals could enjoy it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
(fandom slang) A person whose engagement with media is relaxed or superficial.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Shoes suitable for everyday use, as opposed to more formal footwear.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance.
Casual breaks, in the general system.
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Casual
Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses.
A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture.
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Casual
One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Marked by blithe unconcern;
An ability to interest casual students
Showed a casual disregard for cold weather
An utterly insouciant financial policy
An elegantly insouciant manner
Drove his car with nonchalant abandon
Was polite in a teasing nonchalant manner
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Without or seeming to be without plan or method; offhand;
A casual remark
Information collected by casual methods and in their spare time
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Casual
Occurring or appearing or singled out by chance;
Their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their friendship
Seek help from casual passers-by
A casual meeting
A chance occurrence
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Casual
Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough;
A casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws
A passing glance
Perfunctory courtesy
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Casual
Employed in a specified capacity from time to time;
Casual employment
A casual correspondence with a former teacher
An occasional worker
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Casual
Characterized by a feeling of irresponsibility;
A broken back is nothing to be casual about; it is no fooling matter
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Natural and unstudied;
Using their Christian names in a casual way
Lectured in a free-and-easy style
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Oct 19, 2023
Casual
Not showing effort or strain;
A difficult feat performed with casual mastery
Careless grace
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Casual
Occurring by chance; not planned.
We had a casual meeting in the park.
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Nov 29, 2023
Casual
Engaged in irregularly or part-time.
She works as a casual employee at the cafe.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can informal language be used in business emails?
Yes, but it should still be professional and respectful.
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Nov 29, 2023
Are jeans considered casual or informal attire?
Jeans are typically considered casual attire.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is casual conversation appropriate in a formal setting?
Generally, no. Formal settings require a more formal tone.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is casual clothing appropriate for work?
It depends on the workplace dress code; some allow casual wear.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can informal meetings have an agenda?
Yes, but they are usually more flexible and relaxed.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is informal feedback in the workplace acceptable?
Yes, as long as it's constructive and respectful.
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Can informal writing include slang?
It can, but it's best to avoid slang in professional contexts.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can informal communication lead to misunderstandings?
It can if the language is too vague or colloquial.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is informal dress code suitable for interviews?
It's better to opt for formal or business casual attire.
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Nov 29, 2023
Are casual meetings common in professional environments?
Yes, especially for brainstorming or informal discussions.
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Is a casual relationship the same as an informal one?
Not always. Casual relationships can be more transient.
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Is informal writing less structured than formal writing?
Yes, it tends to be less rigid and more conversational.
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Are casual employees full-time?
No, casual employees usually work irregular or part-time hours.
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Are sneakers considered casual or informal footwear?
Sneakers are usually categorized as casual footwear.
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Can informal attire be worn to a casual event?
Generally yes, as both are relaxed in nature.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is it okay to use casual language with strangers?
It's best to gauge the context and their comfort level.
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Can informal gatherings be planned in advance?
Yes, they can be planned but with a relaxed structure.
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Nov 29, 2023
Are casual remarks always appropriate?
Not always, especially if they can be misinterpreted.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can casual behavior be seen as unprofessional?
Yes, if it's too relaxed or inappropriate for the setting.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can informal attire include t-shirts and shorts?
Yes, these are typically considered informal wear.
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Nov 29, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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