If you say that someone is being offhand, you are critical of them for being unfriendly or impolite, and not showing any interest in what other people are doing or saying.
[disapproval]
He lapsed into long silences or became offensively off-hand.
Consumers found the attitude of its staff offhand.
Synonyms: casual, informal, indifferent, careless More Synonyms of offhand
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you say something offhand, you say it without checking the details or facts of it.
'Have you done the repairs?'—'Can't say off-hand, but I doubt it.'.
'Were they at home or away, do you know offhand?'
Synonyms: off the cuff [informal], spontaneously, impromptu, just like that [informal] More Synonyms of offhand
offhand in British English
(ˌɒfˈhænd)
adjective, adverb also: offhanded
1.
without care, thought, or consideration; sometimes, brusque or ungracious
an offhand manner
2.
without preparation or warning; impromptu
Derived forms
offhandedly (ˌoffˈhandedly)
adverb
offhandedness (ˌoffˈhandedness)
noun
offhand in American English
(ˈɔfˈhænd; ˈɔfˌhænd)
adverb
1.
without prior preparation or study; at once; extemporaneously
adjective
2.
said or done offhand; extemporaneous; unpremeditated
3.
casual, curt, informal, brusque, etc.
Also ˈoffˈhanded
Derived forms
offhandedly (ˈoffˈhandedly)
adverb
offhandedness (ˈoffˈhandedness)
noun
Examples of 'offhand' in a sentence
offhand
He waved offhand, Toby said, he waved or gestured at what Toby thought was the desk.
Malcolm, John GOTHIC PURSUIT (2002)
`Oh, things could be worse," said Hunter, doing his best to imitate Yoller's offhand, sophisticated tone.
Hocke, Martin THE ANCIENT AND SOLITARY REIGN (2002)
After everything he'd accomplished he was back where he'd started; the object of Hank's offhand contempt.
Chuck Logan ABSOLUTE ZERO (2002)
(adjective)
Definition
curt or casual in manner
Consumers found the attitude of its staff offhand.
Synonyms
casual
an easy-going young man with a casual approach to life
informal
indifferent
People have become indifferent to the suffering of others.
careless
He pleaded guilty to careless driving.
abrupt
He was abrupt to the point of rudeness.
cavalier
He has always had a cavalier attitude towards other people's feelings.
aloof
unconcerned
curt
`The matter is closed,' was his curt reply.
uninterested
unhelpful and uninterested shop staff
glib
cursory
I gave the letter a fairly cursory reading.
couldn't-care-less
apathetic
Many people feel apathetic about the candidates in both parties.
perfunctory
She gave the list only a perfunctory glance.
blasé
his seemingly blasé attitude
brusque
take-it-or-leave-it (informal)
nonchalant
Denis tried unsuccessfully to look nonchalant and uninterested.
lackadaisical
unceremonious
offhanded
Opposites
serious
,
responsible
,
careful
,
intent
,
thoughtful
,
attentive
(adverb)
Definition
without preparation
I couldn't tell you offhand how long he's worked here.
Synonyms
off the cuff (informal)
spontaneously
He was never spontaneously friendly or warm towards us.
impromptu
just like that (informal)
ad lib
extempore
a speech delivered extempore by the minister
off the top of your head (informal)
without preparation
extemporaneously
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abrupt
Definition
rather rude in speech or manner
He was abrupt to the point of rudeness.
Synonyms
curt,
direct,
brief,
sharp,
rough,
short,
clipped,
blunt,
rude,
tart,
impatient,
brisk,
concise,
snappy,
terse,
gruff,
succinct,
pithy,
brusque,
offhand,
impolite,
monosyllabic,
ungracious,
discourteous,
uncivil,
unceremonious,
snappish
in the sense of apathetic
Many people feel apathetic about the candidates in both parties.
Synonyms
uninterested,
passive,
indifferent,
sluggish,
unmoved,
stoic,
stoical,
unconcerned,
listless,
cold,
cool,
impassive,
unresponsive,
phlegmatic,
unfeeling,
unemotional,
torpid,
emotionless,
insensible
in the sense of blasé
his seemingly blasé attitude
Synonyms
nonchalant,
cool,
bored,
distant,
regardless,
detached,
weary,
indifferent,
careless,
lukewarm,
glutted,
jaded,
unmoved,
unconcerned,
impervious,
uncaring,
uninterested,
apathetic,
offhand,
world-weary,
heedless,
satiated,
unexcited,
surfeited,
cloyed
Nearby words of
offhand
offensive
offer
offering
offhand
office
officer
official
Synonyms of 'offhand'
offhand
Explore 'offhand' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of uninterested
Definition
having or showing no interest in someone or something
unhelpful and uninterested shop staff
Synonyms
indifferent,
unconcerned,
apathetic,
bored,
distant,
listless,
impassive,
blasé,
unresponsive,
uninvolved,
incurious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of careless
Definition
done or acting with insufficient attention
He pleaded guilty to careless driving.
Synonyms
slapdash,
irresponsible,
sloppy (informal),
cavalier,
offhand,
neglectful,
slipshod,
lackadaisical,
inattentive,
regardless
in the sense of cavalier
Definition
showing haughty disregard
He has always had a cavalier attitude towards other people's feelings.
Synonyms
offhand,
lordly,
arrogant,
lofty,
curt,
condescending,
haughty,
scornful,
disdainful,
insolent,
supercilious
in the sense of cursory
Definition
hasty and usually superficial
I gave the letter a fairly cursory reading.
Synonyms
brief,
passing,
rapid,
casual,
summary,
slight,
hurried,
careless,
superficial,
hasty,
perfunctory,
desultory,
offhand,
slapdash
in the sense of curt
Definition
so blunt and brief as to be rude
`The matter is closed,' was his curt reply.
Synonyms
terse,
short,
brief,
sharp,
summary,
blunt,
rude,
tart,
abrupt,
gruff,
brusque,
offhand,
ungracious,
uncivil,
unceremonious,
snappish,
concise,
succinct,
pithy,
monosyllabic
in the sense of extempore
Definition
without planning or preparation
a speech delivered extempore by the minister
Synonyms
impromptu,
freely,
on the spot,
spontaneously,
off the cuff (informal),
offhand,
ad-lib,
off the top of your head
in the sense of indifferent
Definition
showing no concern or interest
People have become indifferent to the suffering of others.
Synonyms
unconcerned,
distant,
detached,
cold,
cool,
regardless,
careless,
callous,
aloof,
unimpressed,
unmoved,
unsympathetic,
impervious,
uncaring,
uninterested,
apathetic,
unresponsive,
heedless,
inattentive,
not giving a monkey's (slang)
in the sense of nonchalant
Definition
casually unconcerned or indifferent
Denis tried unsuccessfully to look nonchalant and uninterested.
Synonyms
indifferent,
cool,
calm,
casual,
detached,
careless,
laid-back (informal),
airy,
unconcerned,
apathetic,
dispassionate,
unfazed (informal),
unperturbed,
blasé,
offhand,
unemotional,
insouciant,
imperturbable
in the sense of perfunctory
Definition
done only as a matter of routine
She gave the list only a perfunctory glance.
Synonyms
offhand,
routine,
wooden,
automatic,
stereotyped,
mechanical,
indifferent,
careless,
superficial,
negligent,
sketchy,
unconcerned,
cursory,
unthinking,
slovenly,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive
in the sense of spontaneously
He was never spontaneously friendly or warm towards us.
Synonyms
voluntarily,
freely,
instinctively,
impromptu,
off the cuff (informal),
on impulse,
impulsively,
in the heat of the moment,
extempore,
off your own bat,
of your own accord,
quite unprompted
in the sense of unconcerned
Definition
not interested in something and not wanting to become involved