recreational

adjective

rec·​re·​a·​tion·​al ˌre-krē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce recreational (audio)
Synonyms of recreationalnext
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
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.
State law allows people over 21 to grow up to six plants for recreational use — and that’s per household, not per person. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Detainees had little access to recreational activities and time outside, which mental health experts say exacerbates their despair. — Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026 Both recreational and professional athletes use the technology. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 6 July 2026 Manufacturers have integrated the platform into more than 25 boat models spanning 13 recreational brands. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for recreational

Word History

Etymology

recreation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recreational was in 1656

Phrases Containing recreational

Rhymes for recreational

See All Rhymes for recreational

Browse Nearby Words

recreation
recreational
recreational drug
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Cite this Entry

“Recreational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreational. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on recreational

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recreational

Nglish: Translation of recreational for Spanish Speakers

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