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 capital itself has announced numerous events with recreational activities open for visitors (and his hometown of Vega Baja is even offering tours of his childhood haunts), but most eyes are on the local scene itself. —Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025

The sheriff's department has typically deployed marine patrols to enforce waterway laws and help ensure the safety of those enjoying recreational activities, Sheriff Michael Main said. —Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 11 July 2025

It would be set aside for recreational activities and preservation, such as hiking, fishing and hunting and connect to the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 July 2025

Students are exposed to the arts and other recreational activities such as swimming, drawing, and music. —Charlotte Observer, 10 July 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