leisure
Americannoun
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freedom from the demands of work or duty.
She looked forward to retirement and a life of leisure.
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time free from the demands of work or duty, when one can rest, enjoy hobbies or sports, etc..
Most evenings he had the leisure in which to follow his interests.
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unhurried ease.
a work written with leisure and grace.
adjective
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free or unoccupied.
leisure hours.
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having leisure.
the leisure class.
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(of clothing) suitable to or adapted for wear during leisure; casual.
a leisure jacket.
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designed or intended for recreational use.
leisure products like bowling balls and video games.
idioms
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at one's leisure, when one has free time; at one's convenience.
Take this book and read it at your leisure.
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at leisure,
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with free or unrestricted time.
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without haste; slowly.
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out of work; unemployed.
Because of the failure of the magazine, many experienced editors are now at leisure.
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noun
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time or opportunity for ease, relaxation, etc
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( as modifier )
leisure activities
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ease or leisureliness
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having free time for ease, relaxation, etc
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not occupied or engaged
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without hurrying
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when one has free time
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of leisure
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English leisir, from Old French, noun use of infinitive, ultimately from Latin licēre “to be allowed”
Explanation
Leisure is time off, spare time, sweet sweet freedom from the demands of work. It's like playtime for grown-ups. Leisure is time away from commitments like work or school. Leisure activities might include windsailing, golfing, crocheting a portrait of Betsy Ross, staring at one's navel, whatever. It's the freedom to do what the heck you want. It's not time for punching the clock or writing a paper on the role of matchsticks in the Industrial Revolution; it's kick-your-shoes-off time. If you read a book at your leisure, there's no rush. Leisure is more rare for some than others. "The billionaire was a woman of leisure," but leisure time is a luxury for most.
Vocabulary lists containing leisure
The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act IV
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"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The businesses tied to outdoor leisure that are expected to benefit include golf courses, outdoor entertainment venues and providers of fishing charters.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
“Unlike typical leisure travel, many travelers finalized plans and secured tickets closer to the start of the games.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
This all comes at a time when a cost of living crisis has left many people with less money to spend on leisure activities such as the pub.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
Sectors that reflect the current health of the economy, including retail and leisure and hospitality, lost jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
“I wish to have a private conference with you two,” said he, when he had surveyed me at his leisure.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
“In those days, there weren’t video games or these other leisures kids have nowadays,” Gerard said.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 1, 2016
To meet the change, Davis sold 100 theaters, wisely followed his customers into new leisures.
From Time Magazine Archive
Meanwhile, during the progress of the war, for which he furnished troops; subsequently, in extravagant leisures at court; later, at Tiffauges, where he resided in a manner entirely princely, he exhausted his resources.
From Historia Amoris: A History of Love, Ancient and Modern by Saltus, Edgar
You would not hear me, At many leisures I propos'd.
From Timon of Athens by Shakespeare, William
The generous indefiniteness, which treats an hour more or less as of no account, is in keeping with that sense of endless leisures which it is one chief merit of the poem to suggest.
From Among My Books Second Series by Lowell, James Russell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
