leisure

American  

[lee-zher, lezh-er] / ˈli ʒər, ˈlɛʒ ər /

noun

• leisures
  plural

1. 

   freedom from the demands of work or duty.

   She looked forward to retirement and a life of leisure.

2. 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.

3. unhurried ease.

   a work written with leisure and grace.

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adjective

1. free or unoccupied.

   leisure hours.

2. having leisure.

   the leisure class.

3. (of clothing) suitable to or adapted for wear during leisure; casual.

   a leisure jacket.

4. designed or intended for recreational use.

   leisure products like bowling balls and video games.

idioms

1. at one's leisure, when one has free time; at one's convenience.

   Take this book and read it at your leisure.

2. at leisure,

   1. with free or unrestricted time.

   2. without haste; slowly.

   3. out of work; unemployed.

      Because of the failure of the magazine, many experienced editors are now at leisure.

leisure British  

/ ˈliːʒər, ˈlɛʒə /

noun

1. 1. time or opportunity for ease, relaxation, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      leisure activities

2. ease or leisureliness

3. 1. having free time for ease, relaxation, etc

   2. not occupied or engaged

   3. without hurrying

4. when one has free time

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leisure More Idioms  

1. see at leisure; at one's leisure.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• leisurable
  adjective
• leisureless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• leisures
  plural

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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”

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

leisure leisures

People trade leisure time to work because the benefit of working outweighs the sacrifice of leisure time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

His purchase helps explain why Harley is bucking a downturn in sales of leisure products: High interest rates, punishing gas prices and broad economic anxiety have dented sales of everything from RVs to boats.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Inflation-busting price increases are on the way at a large Worcester leisure centre, with its operators blaming energy and staffing costs.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Reaching pension age in the country is widely considered a rite of passage into a second phase of life dedicated to travel, hobbies and leisure that, for the luckiest, can stretch well into three decades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

How had that pursuit, reading the novels that others took as their leisure, let her think she was superior to anyone else?

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

“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

He read and rehearsed his reading in memory, but he did not give himself to “deep, abstract meditation” and did not surrender himself to “the fruitful leisures of the spirit.”

From Historical Essays by James Ford Rhodes

Washington had his slaves, his coat of arms, and the occupations and leisures and pleasures, so far as the frontier would permit, of an English gentleman.

From The French in the Heart of America by John Finley

There lie the tears and the sighs of lovers, the hours lost in pastimes, the leisures of the dull, and the intentions of the lazy.

From Stories from the Italian Poets: with Lives of the Writers, Volume 2 by Torquato Tasso

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Related Words

• convenience
• recreation
• relaxation

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