an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation.
Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.
a child's hobbyhorse.
Archaic. a small horse.
an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation
archaic a small horse or pony
short for hobbyhorse
an early form of bicycle, without pedals
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English hoby(n), probably from Robin, or Robert ( cf. hob 2), used as horse's name, as in dobbin
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English hoby, from Middle French hobé, variant of Middle French, Old French hobel (compare French hobereau ), probably noun derivative of hobeler “to skirmish, harass,” perhaps from Middle Dutch hob(b)elen “to turn, roll”; compare Dutch hobbelen “to rock, jolt” ( cf. hobble)
A hobby is an activity that you do in your spare time for fun. Your hobby may be putting together model train sets and driving your mom crazy from all the noise. In the 13th century the word hobby referred to a small horse or a pony. It later came to describe a toy horse — a hobbyhorse. It’s from the hobbyhorse that the word’s modern sense of “favorite pastime” evolved. A hobby is something that you do for fun — not money — and you typically do it fairly regularly. Collecting stamps, growing roses, reading — any of these can be hobbies.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once a fringe fixture of comic-book stores and hobby emporiums, a trading-card game has become a powerhouse in the toy industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
If you’re unfamiliar with hobby horsing, it’s a sport originating from Finland that’s growing in popularity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
I didn’t realize that optimizing my travel points meant picking up a new hobby: constantly comparing prices on travel portals, which is where you redeem your credit-card points for plane tickets, hotels and experiences.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Jo Woods said horses were not a hobby but a lifestyle and provided people with "so much fulfilment"
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
“It’s not the most practical pursuit. Art is a nice side hobby, for when you have the time. But it’s not something you pursue for itself.”
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Polling from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston also found that Republican primary voters see both candidates as equally strong for the general election context.
From Salon ● May 20, 2026
National deployment officers from the TSA were deployed to Houston’s Hobby Airport on March 10, and they continue to assist with staffing shortages as of Friday afternoon, an airport spokesperson confirmed.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026
Kerri Atherton, from the British Toy and Hobby Association - which is hosting its annual trade fair at London's Olympia, said it was still too early to know what the fallout would be.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026
Richard Goosmann, co-owner of Eugene Toy and Hobby in Eugene, Ore., says most of his 150 or so suppliers raised prices 10% to 20%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025
At the press conference announcing the grant, reporters had to ask Wilbur Hobby, head of the state union, to repeat what he said the money would be used for.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
It’s a way to bond with co-workers, much like chatting about other shared hobbies or the latest World Cup game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
The AI assistant can recommend people looking for a serious relationship, someone with common hobbies or even above a certain height or age.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
After completing the initial four month training period, about half continued practicing their instrument for more than three years, while the others stopped and pursued different hobbies instead.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026
Ellie, 13, added: "I think that social media should restrict its content and not the age because it is a way of finding new hobbies, new people and maybe connections."
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
“We don’t have time for hobbies, Chacho. The orderly production of resources is vital to the general good of the people.”
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
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.
