leisure
Americannoun
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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
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.
If there is no formal agreement in place, it’s hard to know what this money is for and whether it’s even enough to cover expenses like food, clothing, school trips, and other leisure activities.
From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026
Coming just as postwar America was rediscovering leisure travel, the song was a big hit — and for many, a painful irony.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
Employers added jobs in the healthcare, retail, leisure and hospitality, and transportation and warehousing sectors.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
"I was just reading about DNA photochemistry – for leisure," she recalls.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
They photographed the paintings at their leisure and returned them at their leisure.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
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.
