recreational
Americanadjective
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of or relating to recreation.
recreational facilities in the park.
-
(of a drug or medication) used for recreation and enjoyment rather than to treat a medical condition.
recreational drugs such as marijuana and alcohol.
adjective
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of, relating to, or used for recreation
recreational facilities
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(of a drug) taken for pleasure rather than for medical reasons or because of an addiction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recreational
First recorded in 1650–60; recreation ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Something is recreational if you do it just for fun. If you're not a professional golfer but love the game, it's recreational. Anything you do because you enjoy it — rather than because you are obligated to do it — is recreational. Hiking, reading, and visiting museums can all be described this way. Recreational means "something done for recreation," and recreation, which was originally "the curing of a sick person," combines the Latin re, "again" and creare, "to create." Today we think of recreational activities as curing our boredom.
Vocabulary lists containing recreational
Least Presidential Vocabulary Used by Presidential Candidates during the GOP Debate (Sept. 16, 2015)
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Courage to Soar
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Out of My Mind
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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.
The professionalization of youth sports—the incursion of for-profit companies strip-mining American childhood—hasn’t only wiped out recreational sports, it’s created a pernicious money culture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
But many whales are also identifiable by their scars, including from collisions with everything from tankers, cargo and cruise ships to fishing boats and recreational vessels.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
Palomar Mountain State Park is a recreational area that she frequented “to get her steps in on the trails,” the organization stated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The region offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, paddleboarding and, in the winter, skiing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
Mom was in the same boat, although she was too busy with me and being the commander of the entire Academy to mess around with recreational simulations.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
