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

Scott Usheroff The wine scene has evolved from hobby industry to a buzzing, blooming viticulture scene. — Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The project is supported by City of Hobbies, a group of organizations supporting youth fellows in Charlotte who conduct research on the impact of hobbies and hobby-developing spaces. — Diamy Wang, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026

This is one of the best periods in a twelve-year cycle for true love and dating, fertility or connecting with children, expression and artistry, as well as hobbies and just having fun! — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026

So often kids lack offline hobbies that reinforce their sense of self, says Leah Jacobs, LMHC, founder and director at Digital Wellness Project. — Parents, 27 June 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