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leisure

[lee-zher, lezh-er]
noun
  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.
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Idioms
  1. 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.
  2. 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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Origin of leisure

1250–1300; Middle English leisir < Old French, noun use of infinitive ≪ Latin licēre to be permitted
Related formslei·sur·a·ble, adjectivelei·sure·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

recreation, convenience, relaxation, pause, intermission, freedom, ease, vacation, liberty, quiet, retirement, chance, recess, repose, sabbatical, time, range, rest, holiday, opportunity

Examples from the Web for leisures

Historical Examples

  • And then he kissed her, and did to her pleasaunce as it pleased them both at times and leisures.

    Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume II (of II)

    Thomas Malory

British Dictionary definitions for leisures

leisure

noun
    1. time or opportunity for ease, relaxation, etc
    2. (as modifier)leisure activities
  2. ease or leisureliness
  3. at leisure
    1. having free time for ease, relaxation, etc
    2. not occupied or engaged
    3. without hurrying
  4. at one's leisure when one has free time
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Word Origin

C14: from Old French leisir; ultimately from Latin licēre to be allowed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for leisures

leisure

n.

early 14c., leisir, "opportunity to do something" (as in phrase at (one's) leisure), also "time at one's disposal," from Old French leisir (Modern French loisir) "capacity; permission; leisure, spare time; free will; idleness, inactivity," noun use of infinitive leisir "be permitted," from Latin licere "be permitted" (see licence). The -u- appeared 16c., probably on analogy of words like pleasure. Phrase leisured class attested by 1836.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with leisures

leisure

see at leisure; at one's leisure.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.