hobby

1 of 2

noun (1)

hob·​by ˈhä-bē How to pronounce hobby (audio)
plural hobbies
: a small Old World falcon (Falco subbuteo) that is dark blue above and white below with dark streaking on the breast

hobby

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural hobbies
: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation
Writing is just a hobby of his.
Her hobbies include gardening and bird-watching.
hobbyist noun

Examples of hobby in a Sentence

Noun (2) his ranch is just a weekend hobby—he makes his real money as an investment banker
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Overlanding and off-roading are no longer hobbies of extreme thrill seekers with more Americans traversing local trails and taking their pricey sport utility vehicles and trucks with them. Morgan Korn, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024 As if grandstanding on anti-trans legislation in Congress wasn’t enough, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace has a new hobby: saying the t-slur, often, and preferably in front of a camera. Samantha Riedel, Them, 6 Dec. 2024 This super fun gift will allow someone to cultivate a new hobby and channel their creativity, both invaluable pursuits of life. Carina Brackett, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024 Schlossberg was a political correspondent for Vogue during the 2024 election and has since embraced social media in a bigger way, sharing everything from his political views to his paddle-boarding hobby and even his breakups with his 442,000 Instagram followers. Catherine Santino, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hobby 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English hoby, from Anglo-French hobel, hobé

Noun (2)

short for hobbyhorse

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hobby was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near hobby

Cite this Entry

“Hobby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hobby. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hobby

noun
hob·​by
ˈhäb-ē
plural hobbies
: an interest or activity to which a person devotes time for pleasure
hobbyist
-ē-əst
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hobby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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