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

If a hobby upgrade tempts you, open a spreadsheet to compare options before opening your wallet! —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026

The trading card industry is currently enjoying a boom period that Mahan and others attribute to the sudden search for new hobbies amid the Covid-19 lockdowns. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026

Five patterns surfaced again and again—not as hard rules, but as common tendencies among people for whom reading is not a hobby so much as a way of moving through the world. —Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026

Lessons beyond the game When asked about personality and hobbies, Michaela didn’t give the answer one would expect from a teenager. —Charles Baggarly april 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 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