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

And now hiking clubs, the next frontier in group hobbies, are pulling Americans off their couches and onto the trails in record numbers. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Buyers entering the hobby through Nintendo games, Pokémon cards and comics are increasingly competing at seven-figure levels, while demand for museum-quality paintings, historical documents, rare books and numismatic material remains robust. — Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 13 July 2026

There are endless hobbies and volunteer opportunities to take up instead. — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 13 July 2026

The shift in hobbies comes over a decade after a near-fatal crash in his World War II vintage plane on March 5, 2015, due to an engine malfunction. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 13 July 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