hobby

1 of 2

noun (1)

hob·​by ˈhä-bē 

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

ˈhä-bē-ist 

noun

Synonyms of hobby

Noun (2)

• pursuit
• sport
• avocation
• recreation
• amusement

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

Noun

Fly fishing, while not one of my husband’s hobbies, is a favorite for some of his friends. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026

When asked broadly what concerns exist currently within the hobby, numerous company leaders pointed directly to PSA’s backlog and pricing concerns without even being asked about the grading company. — Larry Holder, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Once viewed as a hobby reserved solely for the post-retirement generation, birdwatching or birding has had a serious shake-up. — Lydia Swinscoe, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

From building new skills to exploring local experiences and creating space for reflection, embracing personal hobbies, interests and activities during downtime can have a positive impact on one’s energy and perspective. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for hobby

• bobbie
• bobby
• knobby
• lobby
• nabi
• nobby
• panjabi
• punjabi
• wahhabi

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