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Synonyms

hobbyist

American  
[hob-ee-ist] / ˈhɒb i ɪst /

noun

  1. a person who engages in a hobby, an interest or activity pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as one’s main occupation.

    The state’s 500 beekeepers range from hobbyists to mom-and-pop businesses to large commercial operations.


Etymology

Origin of hobbyist

hobby 1 ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )

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.

These hobbyist number crunchers might actually be reaching Tinseltown power brokers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

The advent of a popular open-source project that lets users create personal AI agents is lifting shares of a company making hobbyist computers.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

Anutin Charnvirakul is the scion of a construction dynasty and a hobbyist jet pilot, but championed Thailand's decriminalisation of cannabis and styles himself as a man of the people.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Still, spy couples aren’t just hobbyist liars; they’re professionals.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2025

She calls herself a hobbyist, but she’s good.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

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