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Synonyms

recreational

American  
[rek-ree-ey-shuh-nl] / ˌrɛk riˈeɪ ʃə nl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to recreation.

    recreational facilities in the park.

  2. (of a drug or medication) used for recreation and enjoyment rather than to treat a medical condition.

    recreational drugs such as marijuana and alcohol.


recreational British  
/ ˌrɛkrɪˈeɪʃənəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or used for recreation

    recreational facilities

  2. (of a drug) taken for pleasure rather than for medical reasons or because of an addiction

"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

Other Word Forms

  • multirecreational adjective
  • recreationally adverb
  • unrecreational adjective

Etymology

Origin of recreational

First recorded in 1650–60; recreation ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )

Explanation

Something is recreational if you do it just for fun. If you're not a professional golfer but love the game, it's recreational. Anything you do because you enjoy it — rather than because you are obligated to do it — is recreational. Hiking, reading, and visiting museums can all be described this way. Recreational means "something done for recreation," and recreation, which was originally "the curing of a sick person," combines the Latin re, "again" and creare, "to create." Today we think of recreational activities as curing our boredom.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing recreational

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.

For March, they expect this to add about 0.03 percentage points to inflation, particularly in sectors that rely on imports such as recreational goods.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

It then hit their fallback sites including sports arenas and recreational facilities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

The eligibility policy approved by the IOC is not retroactive and does not apply to recreational sports programs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

But the holy grail is squeezing a game, which can take up to five hours outdoors, into an hour's play for the recreational golfer.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Yet, as we shall see, the invasion of streams, ponds, rivers, and bays by pesticides is now a threat to both recreational and commercial fishing.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson