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

The lean days of the Pandemic taught me to monetize my gardening, foraging, and cooking hobbies. —Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026

But recently, Kennedy has seen an uptick in people listing hobbies again, nodding to their vintage Star Wars figurine collection or pickleball fever. —Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026

As the hobby has exploded in popularity, there are more needlepointers than there are finishers; self-finishing tools allow needlepointers to complete their projects without the hassle of finding one. —Julianna Chen, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026

And after breaking a sweat, this other hobby comes in handy. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 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