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passion project

American  
[pash-uhn proj-ekt] / ˈpæʃ ən ˌprɒdʒ ɛkt /

noun

  1. a personally fulfilling activity or undertaking pursued in one’s leisure time for pleasure, personal growth, emotional satisfaction, creative expression, etc.


Etymology

Origin of passion project

First recorded in 2005–10


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 Kelly’s track record and box-office power couldn’t quell MGM’s concerns about the commercial viability of his passion project.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

That would focus the world's attention on his passion project, the Invictus Games, which would be promoted in London and Birmingham with a series of media-friendly events.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

An epic poem thousands of years old attributed to Homer, “The Odyssey” is not just any passion project.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

The stuntmen are presumably here because their parent company, Thrill Sports, also distributes Power Slap, Dana White’s passion project.

From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026

“Yeah, it started out as a small passion project and just grew and grew.”

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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