recreational

adjective

rec·​re·​a·​tion·​al ˌre-krē-ˈā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of recreation

a recreational area

recreational activities

2

: of or relating to recreational drugs or their use

a recreational drug user

Colorado's burgeoning marijuana industry had struggled under its own astonishing success since legal recreational sales began Jan. 1.

—David Migoya

recreationally adverb

Examples of recreational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Clubhouse lineup has served as one of the key silhouettes for On tennis, already with a Pro version launched in spring 2024, an on-court version directed toward beginner and recreational players. —Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Commercial and recreational fishing are threats to the sharks, and they’re often targeted for their fins. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025

Environmental & Community Benefits: Removing the dam could restore a more natural river flow, improve fish passage, and enhance local ecosystems—all of which can provide long-term environmental and recreational benefits to the community. —Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025

In Louisville, Kentucky, Damon Stinson says his dad, Bob, came up with the idea of creating individual brackets in the 1970s, inspired by a recreational softball league. —Natalie Bennett, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

recreation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing recreational

• recreational drug
• recreational vehicle

Rhymes for recreational

• aspirational
• avocational
• calculational
• combinational
• computational
• conformational
• confrontational
• congregational
• conversational
• correlational
• deformational
• derivational