recreation

noun

rec·​re·​a·​tion ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən 

: refreshment of strength and spirits after work

also : a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

Synonyms of recreation

• relaxation
• fun
• entertainment
• amusement
• enjoyment

Examples of recreation in a Sentence

The fields next to the school are used for recreation.

decided to take a bike tour of the island for recreation and relaxation

Recent Examples on the Web

Don’t build a recreation of a specific existing game, even if it is renamed or called original. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026

As Tom’s Hardware notes, users have already suggested that would-be game cloners could simply pivot to Chinese, open-weight or local LLMs if companies like Anthropic block their recreation plans. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 1 Nov. 2026

More than 50 sites will get chargers over the next 18 months, the spokesperson said, and the city has been retrofitting existing public stations and adding chargers at libraries and recreation centers. — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

The six-bedroom, six-bath farmhouse is considered a hub for recreation and relaxation with a 75-foot swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, tennis and bocce courts. — Kat Tran october 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recreacioun "act of refreshment, action of amusing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin recreātiōn-, recreātiō "spiritual refreshment, amusement, new birth," going back to Latin, "act of restoring," from recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" (from re- re- + creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at create entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing recreation

• recreation ground
• recreation room

Rhymes for recreation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

recreation

noun

rec·​re·​ation

ˌrek-rē-ˈā-shən

1

: refreshment of mind or body after work or worry : diversion

2

: a way of refreshing mind or body

hiking is our favorite recreation

recreational

-shnəl, 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective