recreation

noun

rec·​re·​a·​tion ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən 

: refreshment of strength and spirits after work

also : a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

Synonyms

• dalliance
• frolic
• frolicking
• fun
• fun and games
• play
• relaxation
• rollicking
• sport

Examples of recreation in a Sentence

The fields next to the school are used for recreation.

decided to take a bike tour of the island for recreation and relaxation

Recent Examples on the Web

Visitation, recreation and education are not allowed at the mega-prison, says Bukele, who has shared numerous other videos of how roughly prisoners are treated. —Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025

The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. —Space.com Staff, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2025

New York has the third largest beach travel economy, with 359,000 residents employed in the ocean tourism and recreation industry. —Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 20 Mar. 2025

The Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program received $85 million in funding for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 to provide grant funds primarily to local governments for park and recreation projects. —Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recreacioun "act of refreshment, action of amusing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin recreātiōn-, recreātiō "spiritual refreshment, amusement, new birth," going back to Latin, "act of restoring," from recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" (from re- re- + creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at create entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing recreation

• recreation ground
• recreation room

Rhymes for recreation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

recreation

noun

rec·​re·​ation

ˌrek-rē-ˈā-shən

1

: refreshment of mind or body after work or worry : diversion

2

: a way of refreshing mind or body

hiking is our favorite recreation

recreational

-shnəl

-shən-ᵊl

adjective