leisure
Americannoun
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leisures
plural
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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:
But leisure and hospitality employers cut 40,000 workers, while retailers shed more than 19,000 employees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Figures on Wednesday showed hiring in the US private sector was significantly below expectations in July, with industries like leisure and hospitality shedding jobs.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
It applies to organisations as diverse as cafes, leisure centres, public toilets, domestic violence shelters, bowls clubs and many more.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The Labor Department reported a significant loss of jobs in leisure and hospitality in June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
With a grin and a mock obeisance, Heqet began to arrange logs in the firing box, and Ranofer used his moment of leisure to watch the work going on around him.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
“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
She took no serious interest except in the happiness, the imponderous riches, the innocent and perfect beauties, the sweet leisures, the glories and the arts of peace.
From The Wrack of the Storm by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander
You would not hear me, At many leisures I propos'd.
From Timon of Athens by Shakespeare, William
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.
