recreational

adjective

rec·​re·​a·​tion·​al ˌre-krē-ˈā-sh(ə-)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

Both recreational and professional athletes use the technology. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 6 July 2026

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

Officials said a nearby recreational jet ski operator and another boater immediately came to the firefighters' aid before members of the Perth Amboy Fire Department's marine unit arrived and helped rescue the crew from the water. — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

The Kane Forest Preserve Foundation supports the Forest Preserve District of Kane County by raising funds for conservation, restoration, education and recreational projects that enhance Kane County’s forest preserves, the release said. — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

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

• formational
• foundational
• gestational
• gradational
• locational
• mutational
• notational
• relational
• rotational
• sensational
• translational
• vibrational