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 data showed that on Faire’s platform, orders for crafts and hobbies rose 58 percent, games 55 percent and puzzles 40 percent. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Agents can also help people with hobbies and personal goals and interests by connecting agents to health and fitness apps, smart home devices and financial services. — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Assembling in public spaces to learn our hobbies or form or join existing guilds teaches not only patience and attention but how to have relationships. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Cue the Instagram infographics on how to develop analog hobbies; viral videos of young people simply socializing without their phones, digital detox camps, and the under 13 social media bans. — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 26 Oct. 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